By Roy L Hales

Concerns about changes to the Agricultural Land Commission are growing. The Commission was established in 1972 and currently oversees 4.7 million ha of agricultural land, roughly 5% of BC.  A leaked cabinet document, from Agricultural Minister Pat Prim’s office, reveled plans to divide the ALR into northern and southern zones, with the Oil and Gas Commission taking authority over the northern zone.

BC Energy and Mines Minister Bill Bennett claims that farmers are pleading to have less productive lands removed from the ALR.