WHEREAS the financial viability of BC farms is threatened by the rising cost of farmland due in part to speculative acquisition of BC farmland, possibly by foreign investors and investment companies, as recognized in the 2010 publication by Canadas National Farmers Union, Losing Our Grip; AND WHEREAS BCs food sovereignty is threatened by foreign control of BC food production, and that foreign owners and investment companies could profit from Canadian taxpayer-funded farm subsidies without providing an income for BC farmers nor food for consumption by BC residents: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM request the Province to: 1. Assemble data on current foreign ownership of farm land inside and outside the Agricultural Land Reserve in BC and maintain a registry; 2. Support and strengthen the powers of the Agricultural Land Commission and take measures to protect the agricultural land base from price speculation; and 3. Take measures to limit foreign and investment company ownership of BC farmland, similar to measures taken in Alberta, Manitoba and Prince Edward Island.
Ministry of Agriculture The Ministry of Agriculture is aware that some communities are concerned about the possibility of price speculation by foreign and domestic investors. It is important to understand that British Columbia is a small, open market economy that is dependent on trade and investment for economic growth and job generation. As such, the Province is open to investment, whether foreign or domestic. Investment in British Columbia farmland generates potential for increased food production, jobs and economic development as well as increased revenue streams that the Government of British Columbia can invest in areas such as health care, education and infrastructure. In 2009, agricultural producers and Ministry of Agriculture staff in northern British Columbia reported that a foreign company bought 4000 hectares of land in the Agricultural Land Reserve ALR in the Vanderhoof and Peace River Regions for the purpose of planting trees and selling carbon offsets. The company then hired a Toronto-based company to plant trees on the land they purchased. The Ministry is not aware of any other significant purchases of British Columbia farmland by foreign corporations for production of non-agricultural crops. The Agricultural Land Reserve Use, Subdivision and Procedure Regulation defines timber production, harvesting, silviculture and forest protection as a permitted use for land within the ALR. Some ranchers practice limited logging on their properties to generate secondary income. Ministry of Agriculture staff and the Agriculture Land Commission ALC will continue to monitor the use of farmland for tree production to generate carbon offsets. If it becomes apparent that a significant amount of ALR land is being contracted for this purpose, and that covenants are being placed on the land to support this, the Ministry of Agriculture and the ALC can take steps to control this activity by establishing that it is one which restricts or prohibits the use of the land for farm purposes under the Agricultural Land Commission Act.