2003/04 – 2005/06 SERVICE PLAN Provincial Agricultural Land Commission

Goals

The Commission expects to achieve its mission through the realization of its four complementary goals:

1. Preservation of agricultural land
2. The encouragement and enabling of farm businesses
3. A provincial land reserve system that considers community interests
4. Sound governance and organizational excellence

The Commission administers the Agricultural Land Reserve, which is a provincial land use zone that encompasses 4.7 million hectares of agricultural land. The ALR was established in 1973-74 based on a review of agricultural capability (a combination of soil and climate measures), existing land use and an extensive consultation process. The boundaries of the ALR are continually adjusted to reflect better information on the suitability of lands for agriculture, changes in land use and community needs.

The Agricultural Land Commission Act, 2002 (ALCA) came into effect on November 1, 2002. It replaced the Land Reserve Commission Act, the Agricultural Land Reserve Act and the Soil Conservation Act. The ALCA re-affirms the Commission's mandate and purpose which is to preserve agricultural land and encourage and enable farming. It sets out processes for land use approvals including the inclusion or removal of land from the ALR, non-farm uses and subdivisions. The Act is supported by the Agricultural Land Reserve Use, Subdivision and Procedure Regulation, which details procedures for applications and defines permitted land uses and subdivisions of land within the ALR. New regulations have broadened uses permitted in the Reserve, providing for more diversified and value-added agricultural activities and expanded economic opportunities. As a result government reduced, by approximately 20%, the number of regulatory requirements for the Commission's areas of responsibility during 2002/03.

Amended provisions of the Act provide for the delegation of authority to decide non-farm use and subdivision applications to local governments, public authorities or the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission.

In addition to adjudicating land use applications under the ALCA, the Commission reviews plans and bylaws of local governments and other agencies to ensure that the ALR is properly identified and that the policies are supportive of the ALR and farmland preservation. Review of these plans helps to further the Commission's mandate.

The business of the Commission is carried out through three functional areas¹:

Strategic Planning & Corporate Policy

This encompasses the Commission's policy development role, participation in the planning and policy initiatives of other organizations including local government plans and bylaws, and communications;

Regional Operations

This is focused on the review and adjudication of applications under the Agricultural Land Commission Act, compliance with the Act and regulations, and enforcement; and

Administration & Information Systems

This includes administrative support and records management. The Commission maintains an application database and ALR maps for the province.

The Commission's functions and services are intended to meet the objectives and deliver the outcomes described in this plan, and to support the government's overall strategic direction.

As a result of the Core Services Review process the Forest Land Reserve and regulation of private land forest practices are no longer part of the core business of the Commission. This Service Plan focuses on the remaining core business of the Commission, namely to administer the Agricultural Land Reserve province wide.