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Compliance and Enforcement

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Compliance and Enforcement (C&E) Program

Compliance and Enforcement (C&E) Program is the enforcement arm of the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC). Escalating populations have increased demands and put pressure on the BC land base over recent decades which resulted in an increase in reports of non-compliant activities in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR). The C&E initiative was brought into effect in 2007 out of concern that damage would continue to occur unless further protective measures were taken. C&E Program’s main purpose is to strengthen delivery of the ALC’s legislative mandate to ensure that activities taking place within the ALR are consistent with the Agricultural Land Commission Act (ALC Act). This is achieved by using a combination of education, compliance assessment and enforcement.

Officials designated under the ALC Act have legislated authority to enforce provisions of the ALC Act on ALR lands for the purposes of administering the ALC Act. Their authority includes entering and inspecting land, requesting records and issuing orders to stop work that contravenes (or has potential to contravene) provisions of the ALC Act, ALR Use Regulation, or orders of the commission.

The ALC C&E Program at full compliment consists of 6 officers, 1 Advisor and 1 Supervisor.  In total 8 staff are responsible for the province-wide program. The C&E Officer’s key functions include:

  • Responding to reports of alleged ALC contraventions on private or public ALR land, for residential, commercial or industrial-based activity;
  • Conducting inspections;
  • Seeking voluntary compliance when contraventions are found and taking enforcement actions when needed; and
  • Developing and maintaining partnerships with municipalities and regional districts, Provincial agency staff, ALR landowners and/or the public.