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BC Gov Photos
Norm Letnick at B.C. Beef Day in Victoria.
Norm Letnick at B.C. Beef Day in Victoria.
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BC Gov Photos
With the BC Farmers' Market Association
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BC Gov Photos
In Beijing
While visiting a Beijing wine shop, Minister Letnick talks to an employee about BC's quality ice wine.
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BC Gov. Photos
On the China Trade Mission
Minister Letnick led a BC delegation on a China trade mission with a theme of building markets for BC foods. L to R: Carrina Lin, Managing Director, Yiannis International Corporation, Minister Letnick, Christine Dendy, Owner, Dendy Orchards
O&V:
This is your second time as Agriculture Minister and your second tour of BC. What has changed since your last tour of the province?
Letnick:
The last tour was more around the meat industry, with only a few visits to those involved in other types of agriculture. This time was more of a broad-based tour. I spent three-and-a-half weeks in August on the road for a total of 6500 km. I asked people what their key thoughts were on agriculture and how we could build it together. When I returned I made a long “honey do” list and we’ve gone through it now and are looking at different areas and making suggestions on what we can and can not do. The optimism and attitude was better this time around. Apples are doing well, grapes are doing well and there’s a passion for farming that is stronger this time around.
O&V:
What were some of the things you were made aware of during this tour?
Letnick:
We also heard about the reaction to the Buy Local program. People around the province appreciate the two million dollars we put up, which was partnered with money from industry to encourage consumers to buy local whenever they can. We’ve used up all the money and now we have to find more money for this program.
They also asked about the tree replant. Last time as Ag Minister I committed to bring in a sustainable, long-term tree fruit replant program and they were asking me where it was. It is in the mandate letter that says it needs to be brought in, but there needs to be money for it. My job is to advocate for funds to complete that commitment the government made to the tree fruit growers.
The last time I was Ag minister we got 20% more in our budget. I’m not expecting another 20% this time around, but I am optimistic about finding resources somewhere to fulfil those mandate commitments.
O&V:
Will there be money for a replant program for orchardist fruit growers in 2015?
Letnick:
I would suspect we will have an answer to this in the next few months. We have to outline the number of years that would define long term and sustainable. We’ll just have to see.
O&V:
The ALR is now in two zones – what do you see as the future for these zones
Letnick:
Our overriding principal is still the same. The purpose of the commission and the reserve is to safeguard agricultural land for the future and to encourage more farming on that land. The majority of farm receipts come from Zone 1, which covers prime farmland in the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, the Okanagan Valley and Vancouver Island.
Zone 2 covers farmland in the North, the Kootenays and the rest of the Interior. The farmland protection rules were somewhat loosened to allow for more non-farming activities on the land. To give you an idea of the size of the land involved, in Zone 1 we talk about acres, and in Zone 2 we talk about sections.
Zone 2 changes were made to safeguard the agricultural land and to encourage more farming, but what we are saying to the commission is they should look at other things in Zone 2, like social, economic, and cultural needs. If someone comes to us from Zone 2 and makes claims for social, economic and cultural grounds they must take that into consideration with less priority than the primary directive.
O&V:
What is happening with the backlog of applications for ALR land, and when do you see the new commissioners being fully trained and ready to tackle farmland use applications in their community?
Letnick:
They should be fully trained and starting to look over applications sometime in November. There were six commissioners before and now there are 18. The six before made decisions for the entire province. Now the 18 are split into the six different regions of the province and they have to live in that area.
O&V:
The EFP (Environmental Farm Plan) continues to grow and change. What changes have you seen in the past year and what types of funding can be expected in 2015?
Letnick:
Since April 2013, the BC Agricultural Research and Development Corporation has received more than $2 million in Growing Forward 2 funding for the delivery of the Beneficial Management Practices (BMP) program and the Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) program. Through these programs, farmers and ranchers can identify agri-environmental risks and get support to implement selected beneficial management practices on their farms and ranches. The federal and provincial government have committed 13.4 million dollars to the industry between 2013 and 2018 through Canada BC Agri-Innovation program.
O&V:
The federal government is responsible for GMO policy, but does the province have an opinion on it from an agricultural point of view?
Letnick:
The last time I was minister we relayed that the industry is not supportive of the GMO apple. We believe there might be some brand confusion and marketing implications. At the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) there was discussion and debate; however, it is a federal government decision and they have the scientists that make the determination as to what is and what is not healthy for us to eat.
Having said that, we do have choice. We can buy non-GMO buy buying organic. We are currently working with the organic advocacy groups to work with organic farmers to create a BC organic brand to market. We support farmers' markets, which help people with choice. The Health Ministry gives out coupons to those who struggle financially and they are redeemable at farmers' markets in the summer time. At the end of the day the issue of GMO is federal and we respect their jurisdictional.
O&V:
Golden Mile Bench could become BC’s first sub-appellation. What are your views on sub-appellations and will you approve Golden Miles application?
Letnick:
We’ve received the application and will be reviewing in the upcoming weeks. I’m always looking for a way to encourage agriculture in BC and encourage people to buy our products.
If after review, this area is found to be an appropriate sub-appellation, then I will give it due consideration.
O&V:
Changes to BC Liquor Laws have simplified licensing requirements, made wine available at farmers' markets, made it easier to taste wine outside the tasting room and now wholesale and government outlets pay the same price. What are you thoughts on this?
Letnick:
I think it is all a positive move forward. It will allow people to take their wines out to the orchard and enjoy the ambiance of the winery. It’s going to allow people to compete more fairly with our BC stores. That level playing field is a good change and it is a change that was requested by a number of groups.
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