Editor: Despite propaganda from the province about how it's helping young farmers, the Agricultural Land Reserve in northern B.C. has been gutted. Consider the new act: 4.3 When exercising a power under this act in relation to land located in Zone 2, the commission must consider all of the following:
(a) the purposes of the commission set out in section 6; (b) economic, cultural and social values; (c) regional and community planning objectives; (d) other prescribed considerations.
4.3 (b) Cultural? Welcome to building rodeo grounds on agricultural land. Economic activities? How about anything from an industrial park, a housing subdivision to big box stores.
4.3 (c) Welcome to land speculators lobbying to change local area plans.
4.3 (d) The enabling legislation would give the cabinet new regulatory powers to govern the commission in the performance of its duties; to define "permitted uses" and "non-farm uses" on agricultural land among the two zones and six regions; and to define "any word or expression used but not defined in this act."
Welcome to a section so vague you can drive a super tanker through it. This allows cabinet to enact the big stick order-in-council.
Peter Nemeth
