British Columbia’s British Columbia’s Agricultural Land Agricultural Land Preservation Preservation ProgramProgram

Presentation to

New Public Consortia Project

Brazil – Canada alliance

October 16, 2007

What is the Agricultural Land Reserve?

ALR - a provincial land use zone where:

• agriculture is recognized as the priority use;

• non-farm uses and subdivision are regulated; and

• farming is encouraged

ALR in BC

5% of Province5% of Province

4.7 million hectares4.7 million hectares

ALR in BC

Why does British Columbia need the ALR?

• Limited supply of agricultural land in BC

• Rapidly expanding population threatens farmland

• Food security (ability to feed ourselves) and agriculture industry

ALR in BC

British Columbia’s Agricultural Land Preservation Program

Why ?

• Limited supply of arable land in BC

• Local governments not up to the job

ALR in BC

• Only 1.1% prime farmland (class 1-3)• + 6000 ha /yr ag. land converted to other uses

• Rapidly expanding population• Global / public / political concern• Political will

Getting the ALR in Place

• Dec 1972 & Jan 1973 – Cabinet orders prohibit subdivision, non-farm use of farmland

• Apr 1973 - Land Commission Act adopted

ALR in BC

•1973-1975 ALR designated in multi-step process with local government’s refining Ministry of Agriculture maps, followed by an internal government review.

ALR in BC

The ALR -

• Maintain farm communities intact

Designation - 1974 – 1976

Considerations:

• Land receiving farm assessment

• Land locally zoned for farming

• Allow for five years of urban growth / lands substantially serviced

Agricultural Land Commission Act

• Creates the Agricultural Land Commission and gives it authority to regulate land use within the ALR

• Provides application process for changing land use within ALR

• Enables Provincial Cabinet to declare a matter before the Commission to be in the provincial interest

ALR in BC

Québec also protects farmland

• Loi (de 1978) sur la protection du territoire agricole

• ZAP (zone agricole permanente)

• Code Civile allows regulation of property sales from multi-parcel farms

• Also has provision for Cabinet to declare a “provincial interest” (first used last week)

ALR in BC

B.C. is the most urbanized province in Canada - 84.7%

Two Areas of B.C. ContainTwo Areas of B.C. Contain::

• 2.7%2.7% of Provincial Land Area of Provincial Land Area

• 81%81% of BC’s Population of BC’s Population (2001)(2001)

• 81%81% of Annual Gross Farm Receipts of Annual Gross Farm Receipts ($2000)($2000)

Purposes of the Commission

• to preserve agricultural land

• to encourage farming on agricultural land in collaboration with other

communities of interest

• encourage others to accommodate farm use of agricultural land & uses

compatible with agriculture in their plans, bylaws & policies

ALR in BC

Who is the Commission?

ALR in BC

• Administrative tribunal independent of elected Minister

• 19 members appointed by government, including 1 Chair and 6 Vice-Chairs

• Members include farmers, former local officials and others concerned with agricultural

land preservation

• Appointed from 6 regions of the province

Application Process

ALR in BC

• Applications to exclude, include, subdivide or utilize ALR for non-farm uses may be submitted by landowners, local governments or First Nations

• Most landowner applications must be authorized by local government before proceeding to the Commission

• Decisions on applications area made by the regional panels

•

Commission Role in Land Use

ALR in BC

• Regulates land use and subdivision within the ALR through application process and enforcement

• Local government official community plans and by-laws are of no effect if they are inconsistent with the Agricultural Land Commission Act

• The Commission & Ministry of Agriculture & Lands work with local governments to develop their plans and by-laws to ensure consistency with Act and support for agriculture

ALR in BC

Balancing Interests

• Public interest in agricultural land preservation vs. private property “rights”

• Applicant’s interest vs. third party interests

• Provincial interest in agricultural land preservation vs. other provincial interests (economy, transportation infrastructure, etc.)

• Public interest in agricultural land preservation vs. needs of local communities (urban

growth)

ALR in BC

Governance Challenges

• No prescribed method of balancing many different public interests

• Independent members appointed by elected officials

• Decisions by Commission must be made in public interest and allow for public input

• Local governments and other agencies have many powers and more resources –

Commission must cooperate on many issues

Growth in the Lower Mainland

• 80% projected population increase 1999-2040 (44,400 people per year)*

• Greater Vancouver Regional District will grow from 2.2 to 3 million by 2031 (36%)

• 98% projected increase in housing demand + growth in employment lands*

• “Second wave” of pressure on agricultural land throughout lower mainland as communities exhaust vacant urban land

ALR in BC*Source: Urban Futures Institute

Urban Growth – Agriculture Connection

• Food security: a safe, secure supply of food in a post-oil world

• Farm economy: $2 billion industry

• Farmland preservation and livable communities inextricably linked

ALR in BC

Who makes the decisions about managing growth?

• Individuals: driving market force

• Municipal government: Official Community Plans

• Regional government: allocates growth among municipalities

• Agricultural Land Commission: may exclude land to meet pressing community need

ALR in BC

How do we manage growth?

• The ALR: it’s not enough!

• Changing public behaviour and preferences

• Smart growth: increasing urban densities

• Provincial, regional and local planning: getting it together

ALR in BC

ResourcesResources

www.alc.gov.bc.ca

Phone 604-660-7000