Tell the BC government: Hands off Our Food Security!
The BC government has proposed changes to the Agricultural Land Commission Act that put our food security seriously at risk.
If passed, these changes would restrict the role of the independent chair of the Agricultural Land Commission, one of BC's biggest agricultural champions. They would also divide provincial agricultural lands into two zones, significantly weakening agricultural land protection in one of those zones.
The problem? That "zone" contains 90% of the province's agricultural land reserve lands, and 85% of its lands capable of growing a range of crops.
British Columbians are facing increasing threats to our food security due to flooding, droughts and other climate change-related disasters. Reducing protection of lands that are crucial to our ability to be food self-reliant for the short-term gain of urban development or industries could come at a great cost to BC's ability to meet our future food needs.
Tell the BC government BC's farm lands need more, not less, legal protection. Urge the decision-makers to not bring into effect these dangerous changes to our laws protecting agricultural lands!
Dear Premier Clark, Minister Pimm and Minister Bennett,
Hands off our Farmlands!
I am writing to you today to urge you not to pass Bill 24 - the Agricultural Land Commission Amendment Act, which would restrict the role of the Agricultural Land Commission Chair and reduce protection of the vast majority of our Agricultural Land Reserve lands.
The Agricultural Land Reserve plays a critical role in British Columbians' ability to ensure we can feed our families, now and in the future. The lands that would be put at risk contain a majority of BC's prime agricultural lands, including the Peace Region, the Breadbasket of the North.
Protection of the agricultural potential of those lands by prioritizing agricultural use is key to our long-term food security. Allowing other considerations to take equal footing would be short sighted and irresponsible and will undermine the protection of BC's agricultural lands. I urge you to reject these changes and strengthen legal protection for farm lands and food security in BC.
[Your message here]
Sincerely,
[your name]
