B.C. farmers snap “felfies” showing opposition to Agricultural Land Reserve changes
More than two weeks ago, the B.C. Liberal government announced plans to split the Agricultural Land Reserve into two zones.
The proposal to create Zone 1 (Island, South Coast, and Okanagan) and Zone 2 (Interior, Kootenay, and North) has generated much opposition among farmers, scientists, and local governments.
According to the B.C. Food Systems Network, the government's Bill 24 would "weaken protection for 90 per cent of lands currently in the ALR"—those in Zone 2.
Some critics of the legislation are taking to social media to post "felfies" (farmer selfies) with protest messages.
Real farmers want to shoot down Bill 24. #farmers4ALR #ALR #felfies #bcpoli pic.twitter.com/QwkNIpM4HX
— Ag Land Alliance (@AgLandAlliance) April 13, 2014
The naked truth. Farmers were not consulted. #killbill24 #bcpoli #farmers4alr pic.twitter.com/vP2gW5hz5Y
— Lana Popham MLA (@lanapopham) April 13, 2014
@arzeena: Stop Bill 24! #Farmers4ALR #ALR #bcpoli Farmers! Post your selfies!!! pic.twitter.com/PuScI4RLAM
— Arzeena Hamir (@arzeena) April 4, 2014
#Farmers4ALR Let's celebrate agriculture, not eliminate it. No to BC's Bill 24. @KootenayBill @lanapopham pic.twitter.com/xx4zMxADjV
— GlenValleyOrganic (@gvof) April 9, 2014
Farmer Jonathan means business. Don't muck with the #ALR. #farmers4alr #bcpoli #stopbill24 pic.twitter.com/Hhe2Kyzg4I
— Lana Popham MLA (@lanapopham) April 6, 2014
Grandpa was an #ALR Commissioner to ensure next generations could farm & feed #BC: Kelly Hodgins #farmers4ALR #bcpoli pic.twitter.com/z5BBPpMG7l
— Ag Land Alliance (@AgLandAlliance) April 11, 2014
Kootenay Ranchers already have enough bs! Kill Bill 24 #farmers4ALR @normLetnicl @alrwatch pic.twitter.com/gjBQ1406Y8
— Dave Zehnder (@ZBeef) April 14, 2014
Comments
3 Comments
Rick in Richmond
Apr 14, 2014 at 4:58pm
What a difference success makes.
Over forty years ago, Dave Barrett and the first NDP government introduced the ALR. At the time, it was highly controversial.
Incited on by the wild rantings of Social Credit (one redhead in particular), the majority of BC farmers opposed it. They wanted to be able to turn their fields into subdivisions. Indeed, without the political courage of Dave Barrett, that's exactly what would have happened.
Now, more than four decades later, the farming industry is the strongest supporter of the ALR, and wants to preserve it in fact and in principle. No wonder. The ALR preserved their way of life, and saved the agricultural option for the entire province.
Today, the Liberals (the same old Socred coalition) are just a bit more sneaky in their efforts to dismantle the ALR. But this time is different: the farming community overwhelmingly supports the ALR, and that will make all the difference.
Steve Smith
Apr 15, 2014 at 6:53am
This issue along with our water legislation has to be defended and maintained. Christy Clark's BC Liberals are exactly like the Federal Harper government.
Erin M
Apr 15, 2014 at 11:36am
Population growing = more food will be needed. Just how will we get the farm land back that we will so desperately need back from the homeowners sitting on prime farmland. Just ponder that......