Submitted
on September 4, 2013 for September 13, 2013
On March 13, 2013, I attended an AAC Workshop
in Langley which was hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture. A similar workshop was held in Kelowna. The overall objective of the workshops
was to enable participants to take away ideas and information that would help
them provide effective advice and support to their local councils and boards. Information on the workshops can be found
online at http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/resmgmt/sf/aac/wrkshps.htm
Following the workshop, an AAC
Meeting was held on April 19, 2013 in Quesnel.
The objective of this meeting was to introduce the North Cariboo
agriculture community to what an AAC is and to gauge interest as to whether
stakeholders felt there was a need for an AAC to be established in the North
Cariboo. A total of 13 persons attended
this meeting who are members and /or representatives of the following local /
regional organisations:
Quesnel Cattlemen
FARMED (North Cariboo Agricultural Marketing Association)
Ministry of Agriculture
Cariboo Regional District
Community Futures – North Cariboo
Quesnel Climate Action Group - Food Security Working Group / Quesnel Community Garden
Community Futures Development Corporation – North Cariboo
City of Quesnel
Beyond the Market (Prince George)
FARMED (North Cariboo Agricultural Marketing Association)
Ministry of Agriculture
Cariboo Regional District
Community Futures – North Cariboo
Quesnel Climate Action Group - Food Security Working Group / Quesnel Community Garden
Community Futures Development Corporation – North Cariboo
City of Quesnel
Beyond the Market (Prince George)
AAC’s are proven to be an effective
way for local government to connect with their farm
and ranch communities. At present, there
are approximately 45 AACs serving local governments across British
Columbia. Of these, 21 provide advice at
a regional level or to multiple jurisdictions whereas another 24 serve
municipalities, cities, or a Gulf Islands Trust Committee.
With the
interest and need to create food secure, sustainable communities, the linkages
between local food and health, and the
importance of having strong diverse economies, the establishment of AAC’s to increase the presence of the
agriculture at the Cariboo Regional District table is recommended and timely.
Prior to completing this report, I
spoke to representatives of 4 existing AAC’s throughout the province (Maple
Ridge, District of Lakes Country, Peace
River, and Squamish – Lillooet Regional District – Electoral Area B). A summary of these conversation is included
with this report. All of the persons I
spoke to saw value in having an AAC and felt the function and purpose of the
AAC was important and ensured agriculture was at the table of their local
government. All of these AAC’s have
either lead the development of an Agriculture Plan for their area or are in the
process of having a plan created. For
additional information on available funding specific for Agriculture Plans, go
to http://www.iafbc.ca/funding_available/programs/local-govt-ag-planning/ag_planning.htm
Recommendations
·
AAC’s be
established for sub-regions (e.g. North Cariboo, South Cariboo, Central
Cariboo) rather than on an Electoral Area base and /or for the entire Regional
District. Sub-regional AAC’s would capture
the diversity of the agriculture sectors in the sub-regions without creating an
entity which would be challenged due to the large size of the Regional
District;
·
For each of the
Sub-Regional AAC’s formed, representatives from “member municipalities” should
be invited and encouraged to participate in the AAC process (e.g. District of
Wells, City of Quesnel, City of Williams Lake, District of 100 Mile
House). Although agriculture is
typically associated with Regional Districts the linkages between “urban” and
“rural” is critical for creating a strong, local agriculture and food
production sector. The involvement of
member municipalities will strengthen the relationship between consumers and
producers in that people will learn what is produced locally and by whom. “Urban agriculture” systems could also be
practiced more within municipal boundaries which the AAC could assist with;
·
The AAC would not
replace existing Electoral Area based Advisory Planning Committees / APC’s;
rather they would complement the duties completed by APC’s by specifically assessing
agriculture related issues (Agriculture Land Reserve, bylaws, etc.);
·
AAC could address
land use issues but would also be key to advocacy and awareness of agriculture
/ local food production and its importance in creating healthy, sustainable,
diverse communities. Ideally, the AAC
would be allocated some discretionary funds so this objective could be fully
achieved.
·
Create a working
group / committee in each of the sub-regions that are interested in
establishing an AAC. This group would
work with staff to develop Terms of Reference, propose a budget, and set some
goals (Agriculture Plan, Open House, etc.).
Attachments:
Letters of Support – North Cariboo farmers & agricultural organisations
Lower Mainland Agricultural Advisory Committee Workshop Summary (March 13, 2013)
Quesnel AAC Meeting (April 19, 2013)
AAC Brochure (January, 2013) – Ministry of Agriculture - http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/resmgmt/sf/aac/AAC_Brochure_Jan%202013.pdf
Model Terms of Reference – http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/resmgmt/Ag_Advise_Comm/Model_Terms_of_Ref.pdf
Attachments:
Letters of Support – North Cariboo farmers & agricultural organisations
Lower Mainland Agricultural Advisory Committee Workshop Summary (March 13, 2013)
Quesnel AAC Meeting (April 19, 2013)
AAC Brochure (January, 2013) – Ministry of Agriculture - http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/resmgmt/sf/aac/AAC_Brochure_Jan%202013.pdf
Model Terms of Reference – http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/resmgmt/Ag_Advise_Comm/Model_Terms_of_Ref.pdf
District of Maple Ridge
http://www.mapleridge.ca/EN/main/municipal/728/aac.html
Diana Hall, Urban Planner
Spoke to Diana on July 23, 2013
ü AAC established
in 2007
ü $10,000 / year
allocated to AAC; 50% of budget used to support an annual event which involves
culinary students and showcases and celebrates locally produced food, connects students
with restaurants and restaurants with producers; educates and connects consumers
and producers; tickets are sold at $25/person (2013 event: October 9th);
also provides supports to young farmer
programs – e.g. 4-H
ü Focus of AAC is
on (i) small lot agriculture, (ii) strengthening district’s farming sector,
(iii) highlighting that the district has an agriculture sector; (iv)
agritourism (considering organising a “Slow Food” tour)
ü Considering
beginning a “Dating Service” which will connect “new farmers” to land owners;
assessing alternative forms of tenures which would enable those without land to
farm on available farmland;
ü In 2009, lead
the creation of an Agriculture Plan for the District which was partially funded
through Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC;
ü Provides letters
of supports to initiative involving farming
ü 2 municipal
councilors are on the AAC; these people are voting members
ü Staff liaison
attends all the AAC meetings, applies for grants for the AAC, and provides
other support.
Peace River
Regional District
http://prrd.bc.ca/board/committees/index.php
Wayne Hiebert, AAC Chair / Electoral Area Director
Spoke to Wayne on July 26, 2013
http://prrd.bc.ca/board/committees/index.php
Wayne Hiebert, AAC Chair / Electoral Area Director
Spoke to Wayne on July 26, 2013
ü Established
~15-20 years ago
ü
Meets every 2 months / 3rd Tuesday of
the month; comprised of representatives of all different agriculture groups /
sectors from throughout Regional District;
ü
Reviews OCP’s / Official Community Plans;
ü review
and provide advice on matters regarding the agricultural sector in the Regional District,
including recommendations for ways to enhance agriculture in the region.
ü Agriculture
related concerns identified by the board will be directed to AAC for review and
comment
ü Advises on Non-Farm
uses on ALR land – water plans, oil / gas proposals, worker camps
ü Developing an
Agriculture Plan (accessed funding through IAF / Investment Agriculture
Foundation); draft copy of plan will be presented to board in September; hope
to have plan finalised by year end; Agriculture Plan will address food
security, the promotion of agriculture, and advocacy by providing guidance to
the Regional District for encouraging and supporting agricultural activity both
within and the outside of the ALR;http://prrd.bc.ca/documents/Reg.Ag.Plan.Paper.Apr.2013_000.pdf
ü Important for
addressing the changing times in agriculture & to deal with pressures from
light industry & residential development
ü Eyes of
agriculture for local government
ü Terms of
Reference - http://www.prrd.bc.ca/documents/AAC.MaL.TOR.pdf
Squamish –
Lillooet Regional District – Electoral Area B
http://www.slrd.bc.ca/siteengine/activepage.asp?PageID=211
Jacquie Rasmussen, P. Ag., AAC Chair
Spoke to Jacquie on July 28, 2013
http://www.slrd.bc.ca/siteengine/activepage.asp?PageID=211
Jacquie Rasmussen, P. Ag., AAC Chair
Spoke to Jacquie on July 28, 2013
ü Established ~2
1/2 years ago; Electoral Area based rather than RD; RD is too diverse and large
for a single plan; Electoral Area C (around Pemberton) has their own AAC;
ü Established due
to request of Area B residents but lead by Director Mickey Macri; representatives are from agriculture sectors and
associated community groups (wineries, livestock associations / ranchers,
organic growers, food security groups – “Lillooet Food Matters”, First
Nations); functions as a “working group”;
ü Consult with SLRD on agricultural matters;
ü Working on Lillooet / Area B Agriculture Plan for the Electoral Area;
to be completed in 2014; overall strategic plan that brings agriculture and
food production together and then has recommendations on how plan will be
implemented; RD accessed funding through IAF (contribution of RD “in-kind”);
the hope is Ag. Plan will be adopted into the OCP / Official Community Plans
for the RD, District of Lillooet, and First Nation communities;
ü The main goals of the Agriculture Plan are to: (i) Identify
opportunities to strengthen farming and agricultural practices; (ii) Establish
clear policies to protect and promote agriculture and agricultural land; and
(iii) Contribute to local and regional food security and the community’s
long-term sustainability.
ü Economic development in Lillooet – always includes discussion about
agriculture
http://www.okanaganway.ca/municipal/building-development/agriculture/
Madeleine van Roechoudt, Chair (Farmer)
Spoke to Madeleine on July 30, 2013
ü Lake Country
Community Agriculture Plan completed in 2008 (https://lakecountry.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?Id=640 ); viewed as
successful but not fully adopted; suggested that plan should be reviewed and
updated;
ü AAC primary
provides recommendations to council on proposed changes to the ALR land and /or
lands adjacent to ALR land;
ü AAC advises
Council on various issues including: ALC applications; land use application
which may affect agriculture and agri-business community; and the impacts long
range planning documents may have on agriculture and agri-businesses;
ü TOR / Terms of
Reference recently updated to include advocacy and education function of AAC;
this role is often discussed by AAC but implementation is challenging unless
funds are allocated;
ü AAC comprised of
3-4 active farmers, 2 council representatives (liaisons / non voting members)
& 3 other community members;
challenging at times recruiting volunteers;
ü AAC is very
valuable; it is the voice at the local government table; need people with
agriculture passion to be on AAC;
ü Agriculture Plan
has to be realistic so that is it adopted and implemented.
Kersley Farmers Institute, Paul Zeegers
Ministry of Agriculture – Geneve Jasper
Quesnel Cattlemens – Martin Rossman, Chair
The Elder-witch / All Things Herbal - Janet Knopp (Area A)
Sisters Creek Simmentals – Lynda Atkinson (Area A)
Kirby Hill Farm – Christine Piltz (Area B)
Charlotte Kurta, 4-H Parent, Area A APC Member
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KERSLEY FI (received via email)
September 3, 2013
Hello Heloise,
The Kersley Farmers Institute would like to support the
establishment of an Agricultural Advisory Committee in the Cariboo Regional
District.
The Kersley Farmers Institute was established in the 1925
and has seen many changes in farming over time. So one can see that farming has
deep roots in the Cariboo even before the Kersley Farmers Institute came into
being , it goes back to the gold rush days to provide produce for the miners in
the area.
In todays modern world
the farmers in the Cariboo area are faced with many challenges that come
their way, but through all of it the persevere and over come these. The farmers
in the Cariboo area be it the large cattle ranches or the smaller market
gardens, provide hundreds of jobs and local produce to the Cariboo trading
area.
Therefore we the Kersley Farmers Institute would like to
support the establishment of an Agriculture Advisory Committee , so we can give
the farmers in the area the support and drive to keep produce on the table for
all of us in the area.
Paul ZeegersPresident of the Kersley Farmers Institute
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QUESNEL CATTLEMENS (received via email)
September 1, 2013
Quesnel Cattlemens Association
Quesnel, BC
Quesnel, BC
Heloise Dixon – Warren
Director, Electoral Area B
Cariboo Regional District
Director, Electoral Area B
Cariboo Regional District
On behalf of the Quesnel Cattlemens Association I would like to express
interest in establishing an Agricultural
Advisory Committee to the Cariboo Regional District. I attended the Information Session on April
19 held in Quesnel and from that
realized that there is a lack of connectivity between the urban and rural
communities.
Municipal Government and the Agriculture Industry have common concerns.
Some of the more important are; water and air quality,food sustainability,
(which requires a sustainable agriculture industry) and land use planning.
An Agricultural Advisory Committee, as I see it, would be a forum to open
the lines of communication between urban
and rural, to ensure a pertinant exchange of information occurs and that the
pros and cons of decisions can be rationalized before that decision is
rendered.
The ranching industry is the largest private land owner in the Cariboo, and
it only makes sense that they should be a part of the plannig process.
Sincerely
Martin Rossmann, President
Quesnel Cattlemens Association
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KIRBY HILL FARM (AREA B)
August 31, 2013
It is vitally imperative that local government integrates a strategy for the continued development and support of the agriculture sector. The foundation of our community depends on it. Commerce in industry and retail sectors will ebb and flow, but agriculture is the stalwart cornerstone that keeps the community strong. Without it the community we build will eventually crumble and fall.
My husband and I are in full support of the establishment of an Agriculture Advisory Committee for the North Cariboo and surrounding area. Building a relationship with a working committee of agriculture sector representatives, both the CRD and City of Quesnel will realize a great benefit to the economy and receive much needed guidance on policies and strategies for the continued development and prosperity of our region.
There are
many excellent examples of how urban and rural development have been seamlessly
meshed while keeping agriculture woven into the fabric. The City of Surrey is just one of those
communities that has recognized the importance of keeping agriculture in the
forefront as one of the key drivers of the local economy.
Sincerely,
Quesnel Cattlemens Association
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KIRBY HILL FARM (AREA B)
Christine Piltz
5266 Clouston Rd.
10 Mile Lake (Quesnel), B.C.
V2J 6X9
Re: Agricultural Advisory Committee for the North Cariboo
Dear Heloise Dixon-Warren, Area B CRD Representative,
Having been
in the agriculture industry for 13 years, my husband Ray and I know first hand
the value and importance of developing a sustainable agriculture sector in this
region. While today we are not actively
practising farming, our land is still in the ALR and will ever remain so for as
long as there is someone determined to utilize the land for agriculture
purposes.
It is vitally imperative that local government integrates a strategy for the continued development and support of the agriculture sector. The foundation of our community depends on it. Commerce in industry and retail sectors will ebb and flow, but agriculture is the stalwart cornerstone that keeps the community strong. Without it the community we build will eventually crumble and fall.
My husband and I are in full support of the establishment of an Agriculture Advisory Committee for the North Cariboo and surrounding area. Building a relationship with a working committee of agriculture sector representatives, both the CRD and City of Quesnel will realize a great benefit to the economy and receive much needed guidance on policies and strategies for the continued development and prosperity of our region.
It is our
request as long time residents of the North Cariboo that the CRD and City of
Quesnel seriously consider the establishment of an Agriculture Advisory
Committee.
Ray and Christine Piltz
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SISTERS CREEK SIMMENTALS (Area A)***********************************************************************************
Sisters Creek Simmentals
“Great mothers raise great
calves”
3482 Zschiedrich Road
Kersley, (Quesnel), B.C. V2J 6M8
Dear Directors:
I am interested in supporting the development of an
Agriculture Advisory Council for Quesnel and the regional district. My husband and I and our family have worked
with agriculture in the Cariboo for over 25 years and we have seen a decline in
the cattle industry and a general aging of the farmers in the region. There are small groups working to diversify,
however there are some regulations and rules that do hinder that process from
time to time.
It should be a goal of the city and regional district to
encourage diversification of agriculture in the area, for the following
reasons:
o Replacing
aging farmers
o Encouraging
food security in the area
o Support
for the economy
o Enhancing
the viewscapes and wildlife environments.
No one likes to see a rundown or abandoned farm as we travel through the area, but as you travel down Hgwy 97, there are many small farms that are no longer being taken care of the way we would like to see. More rules and regulations will not change that, however, better communications and wise application of current regulations can help. I believe an Agriculture Advisory Council would be a good avenue to start that encouragement of agriculture in the area.
I am hoping that we will see an Agriculture Advisory Council
in the near future for Quesnel as well as the North Cariboo.
Yours sincerely
Lynda Atkinson (Area A Resident)
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THE ELDER-WITCH / ALL THINGS HERBAL
Email received September 3, 2013
Cariboo Regional District
Board of Directors
This letter is in support of
forming Agriculture Advisory Committees for three sub regions of the Cariboo –
North Cariboo, Central Cariboo, South Cariboo.
These AAC’s could provide
valuable agriculture awareness on issues to the Cariboo Regional District and
the Municipal governments in these areas.
I attended the meeting at
Community Futures on April 19th as a member of FARMED. I also farm in the Quesnel area and realize
that we need more coordination on food production issues and developing more
interest in farming with our young people.
We need more awareness of the importance of agriculture in
providing food security for each of our regions.
AAC’s
could provide advice to the CRD and Municipal governments on planning issues
involving agriculture and land use.
We
need more farmers, more food producers – to replace our aging population of
farmers. And as such we need to provide
help and educational workshops for our young farmers. We need AAC’s to provide linkage between our
food producers and our food consumers.
Janet
Knopp,
Area A Resident / Farmer
Area A Resident / Farmer
Director
of FARMED
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LETTER RECEIVED FROM MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE
Received via email August 29, 2013
***********************************************************************************
LETTER REC'D FROM CHARLOTTE KURTA, Area A Resident
Received via email August 29, 2013
***********************************************************************************
Charlotte Kurta
2874 Homestead Road
Quesnel, BC V2J 6P7
September 3, 2013
Dear Northern Directors of
the Cariboo Regional District
Re: Implementation
of an Agricultural Advisory Committee
I am writing to you to
support the implementation of an Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC) in the
Cariboo Regional District. I live on rural property within the Agricultural
Land Reserve within Area A, and am a parent of a member in the Kersley 4-H Club.
I actively volunteer with the Quesnel and District 4-H clubs, and see a need
for connecting local government with all levels of our agricultural sector,
including youth.
A strong local agriculture
and food production sector clearly benefits from youth involvement, and needs
to pass on information and knowledge about agricultural and rural lifestyles to
our youth. In other regional districts this is one of the roles of an AAC. An
AAC could also promote agricultural awareness and knowledge of local producers
through 4-H activities within our Region.
I am a member of the CRD Area
A Advisory Planning Committee, and am aware of the demands for development on
agricultural lands. As a participant on this committee, I would value the input
and guidance an AAC could provide for development proposals on agricultural
lands. An AAC could provide regional expertise to all APC’s, and thereby ensure
consistency with decisions involving agricultural land development.
I strongly encourage our
Cariboo Regional District directors to consider implementing an Agricultural
Advisory Committee, and thereby give greater emphasis and expertise to
agriculture-related issues in our Region.
Thank you for your
consideration.
Sincerely,
Charlotte
Charlotte Kurta
Area A APC member
Rural land owner
4-H parent
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