Legislation has been introduced that makes it clear land in the Agricultural Land Reserve is for farming and ranching in B.C., not for dumping construction waste or building mega-mansions.
Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture said the previous government let wealthy speculators drive the price of farmland out of reach for young farmers and allowed some of the most valuable agricultural land to be damaged.
If the bill passes it will reinstate one zone for all ALR land in B.C., limit new house sizes to less than 500 square metres, or about 5,400 square feet, crack down on the dumping of construction debris, toxic waste and other fill in the ALR that can irreparably damage soil on valuable farmland.
The bill is part of the government’s commitment to revitalize the ALR and the ALC.
