WHEREAS the Province of British Columbia in September 2004 made farm gate sales of meat illegal, which ultimately led to a loss of East Kootenay area producers, such that in 2001 there were 151 cattle ranching and farming operations, 25 hog and pig farms, nine poultry and egg producers, and 56 sheep and goat farms, whereas by 2011 there were 78 cattle ranching and farming operations, one hog and pig farm, one poultry and egg producer, and five sheep and goat farms; AND WHEREAS this region sees an annual economic impact from the Cranbrook Farmers Market of over 1 million in response to concerns over food security, a desire to buy locally from known producers, and to support our local economy: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM request the Province of British Columbia to reinstate farm gate sales in the province in order that we might better support our agricultural community and the growth of that industry, and at the same time respond to consumers desire for locally grown foods.
Ministry of Agriculture There has been a decline in all farm types across Canada, including in BC between 2001 and 2011 Statistics Canada Census of Agriculture, 2011. Across all commodities, there is a decline in small scale agriculture due to farm consolidation, shifting consumer preferences away from red meat, technological innovation and economic drivers, such as economies of scale. The reducing inventory of beef and poultry in BC is reflective of the national inventory decline. In 2010, government made a decision to put support on farm slaughter licenses in the form of Class D and E licenses with both licenses allowing farm gate sales. Both Class D and Class E licenses are available in 10 rural and remote designated regional districts in the northern and coastal areas of the Province. These rural and remote regions address the small population base and lack of animal numbers to create a viable business case for a licensed abattoir. Class E licenses were available in January 2011 in non designated regions of the Province, including the Kootenay and Boundary local governments. Submission of a feasibility study to address a proven lack of slaughter capacity in the geographic area is required. For Class D licenses, a licence holder can slaughter up to 25 animal units annually 1 animal unit is 1000 kg live animal weight, including their own and other producers. They are allowed minimal processing quartering of carcass for red meat and removal of wing, head, and leg on poultry. They must label packaged meat as uninspected meat with the regional district they are licenses in and are allowed retail and direct consumer sales at farm gate and farmers markets only in the regional district the licence is issued in. For Class E licenses, a licence holder can slaughter up to 10 animal units annually of their own animals only. They are allowed minimal processing quartering of carcass for red meat and removal of wing, head, and leg on poultry. They are allowed direct consumer sales at farm gate and farmers markets only in the regional district the licence is issued in and must label packaged meat as uninspected meat with the regional district they are licenced in. Currently, there are 102 Class D and E licenses, 56 Class D and 6 Class E licences in designated regions and 40 Class E licenses in non-designated regions. Over 50 percent of the Class E licenses in non designated regions have been issued in the Kootenay and Boundary area of the Province - two in the Kootenay Boundary Regional District, 11 in Central Kootenay Regional District and 9 in East Kootenay Regional District. Class E licenses are currently available in the Kootenay and Boundary area with the submission of a feasibility study.