The B.C. government has tripled the number of enforcement officers for the Agriculture Land Commission, following new regulations for agri-tourism across the province.
Derek Sturko, deputy minister of agriculture, said the province approved funding to add four new officers, bringing to six the number of those responsible for dealing with infractions in the Agricultural Land Reserve. But he noted these officers, who will work with other public sector enforcement officers, won’t necessarily go looking for problems, but will largely rely on the self-reliance of farmers, or deal with neighbours’ complaints.
“Like most laws of the land, there’s a reliance on landowners to understand the law and comply with it,” he told delegates at the Union of B.C. Municipalities on Tuesday.
The B.C. government introduced regulatory changes to agri-tourism industry this past summer, in an attempt to preserve the use of farmland as a primary activity in the wake of increased events, such as weddings, on agricultural land. The new rules are intended to clarify the definition and scope of agri-tourism activities, after enforcement by the ALC last year sent waves of concern through the farming community and triggered a flurry of wedding cancellations.
KELLY SINOSKI – VANCOUVER SUN – SEPTEMBER 27, 2016.
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