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Friday, April 23, 1999 . LAND COMMISSION MEETING ON VANCOUVER ISLANDBURNABY — The Provincial Agricultural Land Commission was on Vancouver Island April 22nd and 23rd for meetings with local government officials about the Agricultural Land Reserve. On Thursday, Commissioners conducted site inspections in the Comox Valley with local Agricultural Advisory Committee members David Hansen, Niels Holbek and Jeff Hamilton. They also met with Ministry of Highways officials Murray Tekano and Rick Silva, and local farmers, about the impact of the proposed link between the Island Highway and Miracle Beach. Afterwards, the Commission met with the Comox-Strathcona Regional District, chaired by Dot Andrews of Campbell River; the agenda included subdivision of agricultural land, second dwellings on farmland, enforcement matters and zoning controls in the ALR. Friday morning Commissioners met with Mayor Gillian Trumper and City of Port Alberni Councillors and staff to discuss the possible exclusion of land from the ALR at the entrance to the municipality. Later in the day ALC officials met with the directors of the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, members of the Farmers Institute and the Nanaimo Regional District to address a range of farmland preservation issues. "The ALC’s job is to preserve BC’s foodlands and ensure a place for agriculture", explained Commission Chair Alan Chambers. "The role of local government in our deliberations is crucial. In making all of our decisions, we try to balance our mandate with the needs of local governments and of residents of the areas affected." "It was also helpful to see these lands first-hand and to meet the people most directly involved," added Chambers. "The more we can travel outside the Lower Mainland and see things for ourselves, the better we can discharge our responsibility to preserve farmland."
Background: The Agricultural Land Commission, established in 1973, is responsible for preserving and protecting BC’s limited farmland. It conducts land use planning in partnership with local communities, adjudicates applications for the use of land in the ALR and encourages farming to provide a basis for a sustainable economy and a secure source of food. The ALR comprises five per cent of BC’s land mass, or 4.7 million hectares. The ALC is currently composed of six members, all appointed by the Provincial government. They include municipal planning consultant Kurt Alberts from Fort Langley, Fraser Valley horticulturist Janna Bakker, rancher Gus Horn from 100 Mile House, Kelowna orchardist David Taylor and Fraser-Fort George Regional District director Maureen Thompson. The Chair is retired UBC professor Alan Chambers, who is also chair of the Forest Land Commission.
Contact: Roger Cheetham
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