Scotch Broom

WHEREAS the Province of British Columbia has enacted the BC Weed Control Act to protect farmland and farmers livelihood against the spread of noxious weeds that are extremely competitive with crops and are difficult and costly to control; AND WHEREAS Scotch Broom is invasive, spreads rapidly, can render farm land unusable for growing food crops, destroys pasture lands, is toxic to grazing animals, inhibits re-growth of forests, eliminates native vegetation, contains toxic chemicals or substances that can affect the nervous system and the heart and is highly flammable; AND WHEREAS the Ministry of Forests Range states that it is important that broom is recognized as a threat to our biodiversity and preventative means be taken to arrest its spread: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM request the Ministry of Agriculture to designate Scotch Broom as a noxious weed under the BC Weed Control Act.