Funding for Agriculture

WHEREAS the Province of British Columbia, with over 200 distinct agricultural commodity groups operating on lands alienated for alternative land use by the Agricultural Land Reserve is the most competitive high risk and capital intensive industry in Canada; AND WHEREAS the success of agriculture depends on an investment in infrastructure, education and expertise by the provincial government through their Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, with British Columbia spending a mere 3.3 of agricultures Gross Domestic Product for supporting the agricultural industry, while the average in Canada is 16.4: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities request the Province of British Columbia to immediately increase funding for the agricultural industry in the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands to a level equal to 16.4 of the agricultural gross domestic product in the Province of BC.