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.
Ministry of Forests, Lands Natural Resource Operations Government recognizes the impacts and threats posed by noxious weeds and other invasive plants. British Columbias agriculture sector, fish and wildlife habitat, infrastructure, recreational opportunities, and human health are potentially at risk. Administration of the Weed Control Act was transferred to the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations in 2010. Ministry staff, along with the Inter-Ministry Invasive Species Working Group, are reviewing the Weed Control Act Regulation and completing risk analyses on invasive plant species to identify high-risk candidates for designation as noxious weeds. Through this process, Scotch broom has been confirmed as a species to be added to the noxious weed list. It is our intention to put forward the proposed Weed Control Act Regulation changes in 2014.