" They are RDNO pushing for more consul

‘They are not supporting the farmer.’ RDNO pushing for more consultation after ALC changes

Mar 11, 2019 | 8:00 AM

The Regional District of the North Okanagan will be writing a letter to the Ministry of Agriculture, following recent changes made to the Agricultural Land Commission.

The district says they will be writing the letter to ask for more consultation with regional districts and municipalities before changes with the Agricultural Land Commission are implemented.

The motion was put forward by Spallumcheen Mayor Christine Fraser who said that her own residents expressed concerns over the new changes at a recent meeting in their municipality.

“Most of them to their own accord have said we have grey hair, you are not supporting farming,”

“They are regulating us to the point that we aren’t going to be able to farm anymore,” said Fraser.

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“It is really interesting to me how they are making it less and less support to the farmer.” Spallmumcheen Mayor Christine Fraser on the Agricultural Land Commission Changes . pic.twitter.com/Jsan3ZjI3X

— Tiffany Goodwein (@CityNewsTiffany) March 7, 2019

Regional District of the North Okanagan Chair Kevin Acton said that consultation did take place within the regional district but whether or not it was sufficient enough is up for debate.

“I do want to caution that we were consulted. I remember several months ago getting emails from the government about the ALR lands and the ALC, there was a whole questionnaire and survey that was mailed to us, whether or not they came to the board and talked to us personally, that didn’t happen,” he said.

“It’s one of our solutions for affordable housing, they eliminated that.”

Under the new changes, homes will be limited to 500 sq. meters or less, and additional residences on farm land will be restricted.

General Manager of Planning and Building Rob Smailes says the changes will impact the ability to keep generational family farms together and affordable housing measures.

“This has been the mechanism the board has used for years to allow some multi generational farms to stay together for families and for farm help and it is a source of affordable housing in rural areas, it is one of our solutions for affordable housing, they eliminated that, so it is now gone” said Smailes who added that the only thing that will be allowed under the new rules is a secondary suite in an existing house.

The commission also made changes that will affect tourism accommodations on farm land and placed area restrictions around soil removal.

The letter to the Agricultural Land Commission has been sent to staff and will be brought back to the board for final approval.