Agricultural Land Reserve

File photo: Sobia Moman

Surrey council supports moving huge tract of farmland into ALR

Coun. Mike Bose said a vote against this would be ‘a vote against food security in Western Canada’

 

Frank Bucholtz

AND FRANKLY: Hard choices to be made about Surrey’s farmland

Keeping agricultural land in production is more challenging than ever as urban uses encroach

  • Jan 26, 2023

 

The Kwantlen Polytechnic University Langley campus auditorium was packed with people Monday night for an Agricultural Land Commission meeting, with the vast majority in support of including South Surrey farm land into the provincial Agricultural Land Reserve. (Tricia Weel photo)

Overwhelming support at public meeting for including South Surrey farm land in ALR

‘If we were to pave over this, we pave over part of who we are’: MLA Elenore Sturko

 

Tyler Heppell stands in the middle of a field at his family’s South Surrey farm. (Sobia Moman photo)

South Surrey farmer hopes upcoming public hearing will help protect land from development

Agricultural Land Commission proposal includes Heppell farm in the ALR

Tyler Heppell stands in the middle of a field at his family’s South Surrey farm. (Sobia Moman photo)
Surrey council chambers inside city hall. (File photo)

Surrey city staff to assess all agricultural land, with a view to protect it

Council passed Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum’s motion on Monday

Surrey council chambers inside city hall. (File photo)
A photo showing the vertical farming concept. (Funky Banana Farm photo)

Province revises ALR regulations to make room for vertical farming

Minister of Agriculture: Agri-tech innovations may help solve ‘food security and food economy puzzle’

A photo showing the vertical farming concept. (Funky Banana Farm photo)
Farmgate sales of meat have been restricted in B.C. since new federal rules took effect in 2001. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. issuing new farmgate licences to allow meat sales this fall

Health rules restrict sales to local regional districts only

Farmgate sales of meat have been restricted in B.C. since new federal rules took effect in 2001. (B.C. government photo)
Google Earth image of B.C.’s Fraser Valley, an area of intensive agriculture and development pressure for housing and industrial needs. (Google)

Eyes in the sky have a future for B.C. farmland, minister says

Satellite surveillance of agricultural use stopped after protests

Google Earth image of B.C.’s Fraser Valley, an area of intensive agriculture and development pressure for housing and industrial needs. (Google)
B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham. (Screen shot)

Government allowing ‘more residential flexibility’ in ALR, Popham tells Surrey meeting

B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham was guest speaker Friday during Surrey Board of Trade-hosted Zoom meeting

B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham. (Screen shot)
A farm tractor and baler sit in a hay field on a misty morning, ready for a day’s harvest. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

B.C. to ease restrictions on secondary farm homes – in 2022

Agricultural Land Commission approval won’t be needed

A farm tractor and baler sit in a hay field on a misty morning, ready for a day’s harvest. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Saik’uz First Nation Coun. Jasmine Thomas and Chief Priscilla Mueller speak about the need for addiction treatment facility near Vanderhoof, March 2021. (Aman Parhar/Omineca Express)

Remote B.C. addiction treatment centre tries again with ministry support

Agriculture minister insists she is not interfering in land commission

Saik’uz First Nation Coun. Jasmine Thomas and Chief Priscilla Mueller speak about the need for addiction treatment facility near Vanderhoof, March 2021. (Aman Parhar/Omineca Express)
South Surrey farmland, March 2020. The province’s crackdown on secondary residences sparked protests that have the NDP government engaged in a lengthy rewrite of its legislation. (Tracy Holmes/Peace Arch News)

B.C. NDP now wants to keep even ‘non-farmers’ on the land

‘Grandfathering’ of second residences extended again

South Surrey farmland, March 2020. The province’s crackdown on secondary residences sparked protests that have the NDP government engaged in a lengthy rewrite of its legislation. (Tracy Holmes/Peace Arch News)
Farmland in Surrey. (Photo: Surrey.ca)

B.C. Agriculture minister sends Surrey ‘stern’ letter for nixing agriculture advisory committee

Cities intending to restrict or prohibit agriculture within a farming area may need to be ‘regulated,’ Lana Popham warned

Farmland in Surrey. (Photo: Surrey.ca)
Cheslatta Carrier Nation chief Corinna Leween speaks to the annual B.C. Natural Resources Forum, Jan. 27, 2021. Leween is president of Carrier Sekani Family Services, a delegated agency of the B.C. government serving northern B.C. communities. (B.C. Natural Resources Forum)

B.C. addiction treatment centre rejected because it’s on ‘agricultural’ land

Remote fishing lodge on Tachick Lake has never been farmed

Cheslatta Carrier Nation chief Corinna Leween speaks to the annual B.C. Natural Resources Forum, Jan. 27, 2021. Leween is president of Carrier Sekani Family Services, a delegated agency of the B.C. government serving northern B.C. communities. (B.C. Natural Resources Forum)
Darvonda greenhouse in Langley is asking the ALC to allow the return of the annual GLOW events. On Monday, June 30, 2020, Township council endorsed the application. (File)

GLOW festival organizers seek a return to orginal home in Langley

Application for “non-farm-use” goes to Agricultural Land Commission

Darvonda greenhouse in Langley is asking the ALC to allow the return of the annual GLOW events. On Monday, June 30, 2020, Township council endorsed the application. (File)
B.C. Liberal agriculture critic Ian Paton addresses farmers’ rally outside the B.C. legislature over housing restrictions, Oct. 28, 2019. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)

B.C. cuts fees, not red tape for farmland home construction

Gravel roads get relief from fill dumping regulations

B.C. Liberal agriculture critic Ian Paton addresses farmers’ rally outside the B.C. legislature over housing restrictions, Oct. 28, 2019. (Tom Fletcher/Black Press)
B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham attends annual Beef Day barbecue at the B.C. legislature, May 2019. (B.C. government photo)

B.C. farmland regulations allow return to local decision-making

Property owners still can’t apply to Agricultural Land Commission

B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham attends annual Beef Day barbecue at the B.C. legislature, May 2019. (B.C. government photo)
A photo taken on June 25, 2018 by a Ministry of Environment inspector shows 93 Land Company’s agricultural waste stored outside their storage facility.

Abbotsford trustees to fight bid to legalize ‘toxic-smelling’ manure company next to school

Manure facility across from elementary school allegedly cause of sick kids for three years

A photo taken on June 25, 2018 by a Ministry of Environment inspector shows 93 Land Company’s agricultural waste stored outside their storage facility.
Alanah Fuduric and her five-month-old daughter Charlie, and Alanah’s mom Cathy Fichter on the site where they were hoping to place a modular home for Cathy and her husband to live close to the rest of the family. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)

Fraser Valley family in limbo as ALR rule changes mean no second home for grandparents

The family is one of dozens facing changed regulations on farmland housing

Alanah Fuduric and her five-month-old daughter Charlie, and Alanah’s mom Cathy Fichter on the site where they were hoping to place a modular home for Cathy and her husband to live close to the rest of the family. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)
Langley East MLA Rich Coleman has apologized for comments he made in the B.C. Legislature Thursday.

Rich Coleman apologizes for comparing ALR rule changes to Nazi oppression

Rich Coleman was speaking on a bill that changes farmland regulations

Langley East MLA Rich Coleman has apologized for comments he made in the B.C. Legislature Thursday.
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