To the Editor:
(Open letter to B.C. Premier Christy Clark)
As a small business owner based on the East Shore of Kootenay Lake, I am writing to you to express my concerns about the future of the Agricultural Land Reserve in British Columbia.
I grew up in Richmond during the ’70s and saw how priceless delta farmland and market gardens were paved over to become condominiums and malls — removed forever from food production. Later on, through the ’90s, I lived outside of Calgary, Alta. There I witnessed formerly viable farmers and ranchers being forced to subdivide to cover the drastic increase of their property taxation due to the rampant property development around them. This was not a prudent management of our limited agricultural resources, and does not contribute to long-term local food security.
I am currently working to become a sustainable small farm in the Kootenays through diversified farming and animal management. I believe the existing ALR is a critical protection of our irreplaceable farmland.
Madame premier, I appeal to your sense of leadership. Show us that you have the long-range vision to maintain our agricultural resources. Please do not alter the ALR currently in place — our productive farmland must be protected for the present-day and future residents of B.C. Please do not give in to the temptation of short-term monetary gain today at the cost of long-term resource sustainability. Food security is now a dire issue for everyone on this fragile planet — this is your chance to be the shining light.
I thank you most sincerely for your consideration of my request and your time.
Paula Bailly
Riondel