Goals, Objectives, Strategies and Results
Overview
Commission Goals
The Commission has set two goals critical to achieving its vision:
- Preserve agricultural land.
Agricultural land comprises five per cent of the total land area of British Columbia. There is ongoing and increasing pressure
to convert agricultural land to non-agricultural uses. The Commission protects agricultural land in B.C. through the Agricultural
Land Reserve or ALR, a provincial land use zone in favour of agriculture. The ALR provides an agricultural land base that
supports, and creates opportunities for, a safe and secure source of food and other agricultural products. A protected land
base also provides for agricultural expansion and compatible economic activities.
- Encourage and enable farming of land in the ALR.
The land use framework for agriculture includes the Agricultural Land Commission Act, local government land use plans and by-laws, and the legislation, plans and policies of other ministries and agencies that
affect agricultural land use.
The ALR is a working agricultural land base. The utilization of the ALR for agricultural production contributes to the economy,
stabilizes rural communities and is the foundation of a safe and secure food system. The Commission shares the responsibility
for encouraging farm use of agricultural lands with its key partners. These include over 130 local governments, the agricultural
sector and its professional organizations, the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, other ministries and agencies, Agriculture
Canada and other federal agencies, and First Nations.
Linkage to the Five Great Goals
The goals of the Commission are aligned with two of the Five Great Goals set by the government. The Commission goal to "Preserve
agricultural land" relates to the long-term management of a resource base for both current and future needs. It contributes
to the Great Goal "To lead the world in sustainable environmental management, with the best air and water quality, and the
best fisheries management, bar none."
The Commission goal to "encourage and enable farming of land in the ALR" relates to providing a business environment for agriculture.
It contributes to the Great Goal "To create more jobs per capita than anywhere else in Canada."
Cross Ministry Initiatives
The Commission works closely with the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands on issues, programs and initiatives intended to improve
land use planning for agriculture. Ministry and Commission staff utilize a team approach to participating in local government
planning and by-law initiatives that impact agriculture.
Regulatory Reform
British Columbia continues to make regulatory reform a priority across government, making it easier for businesses to operate
and succeed in British Columbia, while still preserving regulations that protect public health, safety and the environment.
A citizen-centred approach to regulatory reform will reduce the number of steps it takes to comply with government requirements
or access government programs and services.
The Commission will support Government's Regulatory Reform initiatives by committing to controlling regulatory burden and
improving regulatory quality by:
- reviewing the Agricultural Land Commission Act and regulations in order to shift the Commission's regulations to be more citizen centred, cost-effective, results-based,
and responsive to our clients by reducing and/or streamlining the steps or business processes involved in complying with provincial
regulations; and
- adhering to the regulatory criteria set out in the Regulatory Reform Policy, and targeting a zero per cent net increase in
regulation through 2009/10.