Gorilla Radio blog: BC Liberals Take Aim at Agriculture Land Reserve System to Achieve Its "Goals"

Saturday, September 28, 2013

BC Liberals Take Aim at Agriculture Land Reserve System to Achieve Its "Goals"

Urgent Action on ALR Needed

by BC Food Systems Network

We need to bring to your attention an urgent matter. It pertains to the Agriculture Land Reserve. We need British Columbians to speak out NOW on the importance of the ALR and public process to make any changes to it or the Agriculture Land Commission.

You may have read this summer that Honourable Bill Bennett, the Minister in Charge of the Core Review Process has stated that the review will look at the Agriculture Land Reserve.

“We’re going to look at some sacrosanct things, like certain agencies. We’re going to look at the Agricultural Land Reserve and the Agricultural Land Commission,” Bill Bennett, minister responsible for the core review, said Wednesday.

“I’m going to look at things that politicians have been nervous about looking at over the years and ask to better understand how they make their decisions and why they make their decisions and determine whether they’re structured to help achieve the goals of our provincial government”.

A recent government press release indicates that the only public input into this Core Review process is scheduled between now and October 16 through the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services as it tours the Province hearing input on the 2014 budget.

See press release: http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2013-2017/2013MEM0014-001465.htm#

The schedule of hearings is below.

We need people at each of the hearings letting the committee know that this input is not sufficient and that the ALR is important to British Columbians. We will shortly be sending you some key messages that the BCFSN Policy Working Group has drafted for you but we encourage you to speak from your own experiences and your regional perspective.

You might find it helpful to look at the record in Hansard of the presentation made by Linda Geggie and Kathleen Gibson on Thursday, September 26. You can find it here: http://www.leg.bc.ca/cmt/40thParl/session-1/fgs/hansard/20130926am-Finance-Blues.htm (Scroll down to just after 0950 when our presentation starts.)

We need to act fast! Here’s how to get on the presentation list in your area. You will be given 10 minutes to present with 5 minutes for questions from Committee members.

To register, please contact the Parliamentary Committees Office by phone, 1-877-428-8337 1-877-428-8337 FREE , or by e-mail: FinanceCommittee@leg.bc.ca and include the presenter and organization name(s) and full contact information.

Can't present? WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS WILL BE TAKEN TIL OCT 16.

Presentation schedule:

Please note: Due to time constraints, the Committee is unable to accommodate PowerPoint presentations. Please provide the Committee with 14 copies of any written material you would like to distribute to Committee Members at the time of your presentation. The Committee would also appreciate receiving an electronic copy of your presentation by email either before or shortly after your appearance. Please submit to: FinanceCommittee@leg.bc.ca.

ICBC B, Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, 580 West Hastings Street, Vancouver

Friday, September 20, 2013

1:00 pm to: 7:00 pm

Public Hearings

Guildford C, Sheraton Vancouver Guildford, 15269 104th Avenue, Surrey

Monday, September 23, 2013

9:00 am to: 5:00 pm

POCO Room, POCO Conference Centre, 1545 Lougheed Highway, Port Coquitlam
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
9:00 am to: 1:00 pm
Public Hearing

Sardis Room, Coast Chilliwack Hotel, 45920 First Avenue, Chilliwack
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
4:00 pm to: 8:00 pm
Public Hearing

Tranquille Ballroom, Holiday Inn and Suites, 675 Tranquille Road, Kamloops
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
8:00 am to: 12:00 pm

West Auditorium, Merritt Civic Centre, 1950 Mamette Avenue, Merritt
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
4:00 pm to: 7:00 pm

Douglas Fir Committee Room, Parliament Buildings, Victoria
Thursday, September 26, 2013
9:00 am to: 3:00 pm
Public Hearing
Fernie Salon,Prestige Rocky Mountain Resort, 209 Van Horne Street, Cranbrook
Monday, September 30, 2013
1:00 pm to: 5:00 pm
Public Hearing
Columbia Room, Best Western Plus, 1001 Rossland Avenue, Trail
Tuesday, October 01, 2013
9:00 am to: 12:00 pm
Public Hearing
Council Chambers, Penticton City Hall, 171 Main Street, Penticton
Tuesday, October 01, 2013
4:00 pm to: 8:00 pm
Public Hearing
Vineyard 3 & 4, Coast Capri Hotel, 1171 Harvey Avenue, Kelowna
Wednesday, October 02, 2013
8:00 am to: 12:00 pm
Public Hearing
Benson Room, Coast Bastion Inn, 11 Bastion Street, Nanaimo
Wednesday, October 02, 2013
4:30 pm to: 8:30 pm
Public Hearing
North Island College, 2300 Ryan Road Courtenay
Thursday, October 03, 2013
9:00 am to: 12:00 pm
Public Hearing Video Conference
Vernon Jubilee Hospital, Education Room 3 (basement level), 2101 32nd Street Vernon
Thursday, October 03, 2013
9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Public Hearing Video Conference
Room 1, Fixx Urban Grill, 512 Highway #2, Dawson Creek
Monday, October 07, 2013
1:00 pm to: 5:00 pm
Public Hearing
Skylight Ballroom, Ramada Downtown, 444 George Street, Prince George
Tuesday, October 08, 2013
8:00 am to: 12:00 pm
Public Hearing
Room 119, Pioneer Complex, 351 Hodgson Road, Williams Lake
Tuesday, October 08, 2013
4:00 pm to: 8:00 pm
Public Hearing
Hall, Royal Canadian Legion, 3840 1st Avenue Smithers
Wednesday, October 09, 2013
8:00 am to: 12:00 pm

Metlakatla Room, Highliner Plaza Hotel, 815 1st Ave West, Prince Rupert
Wednesday, October 09, 2013
4:30 pm to: 8:30 pm

Community Futures, 335A Vaughan Street, Quesnel
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
9:00 am to: 12:00 pm

Northern Lights College, 9820 120 Avenue, Fort St. John
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
9:00 am to: 12:00 pm