Editor:
Re: Opposition tilling ground that government already working, Community Comment, Feb. 6
Mike Schneider belittles the opposition committee on agriculture and food because it "will not be able to make any policy decisions." Well, by gosh, he's right: because no committee can make policy decisions.
Then he says that food shouldn't be turned into a political issue. Poppycock: food is as political an issue as you can get in this province, especially when government splits the ALR into two zones and unilaterally allows non-farm uses on Zone II land. That legislation met with almost universal opposition and was nothing if not political.
He then asserts that a committee on agriculture is meaningless, given the minister already has an industry advisory committee. That is one of the problems we have with this government: it listens to no one but industry.
I agree wholeheartedly that professional advice is critical, but that doesn't mean the people or their elected representatives have no right to an opinion - or to be heard - on the major issues of the day. And I personally believe the sustainability of agriculture, the protection of agricultural land and B.C.'s food security are pretty important issues.
B.C.'s legislature has no standing committee on agriculture and the standing committees on environment,
Crown corporations, health and education haven't met in the six years I have been in Victoria. Personally, I think an opposition committee on agriculture and food - a committee that will actually meet and hear witnesses - is one heck of a good idea.
Vicki Huntington
Delta South MLA
