Part A: Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
Highlights of the Year
British Columbia produces some of the highest quality agricultural, aquaculture and food products in the world, as well as a greater variety of products over a wider range of geographic and climatic conditions than any other area in Canada. Farming and food production is a vital part of community life in all regions of the province. Over the past year the Ministry has made good progress in promoting economic development and environmental sustainability of the agriculture, aquaculture and food sectors and in laying the groundwork to ensure future growth and sustainability of the sectors through an effective new level of cooperation with the federal government, long-term planning initiatives and relationship building with industry, local governments and First Nations. The Ministry has also made significant progress in the effective management of Crown land and associated resources, including the management of contaminated sites that are the responsibility of the province.
Profitable and Competitive Food and Agriculture Sectors
B.C.'s agriculture exports achieved positive growth in 2005 increasing by 2.4 per cent over the previous year, with exports of aquaculture products — salmon in particular — increasing 24 per cent. Agriculture cash farm receipts and food and beverage manufacturing shipments combined grew 8 per cent during this period, while capital investment in the industry increased 6.9 per cent as measured by a three year rolling average. Contributions by the Ministry to these outcomes include:
- Supported negotiation of the agriculture-related component of the British Columbia-Alberta Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement, effective April 2007, which provides seamless access across all sectors, such as energy, transportation, business registration and government procurement. The Conference Board of Canada estimates the pact has the potential to add $4.8 billion to real GDP and create 78,000 new jobs in B.C., including the agriculture and food sectors.
- Played a significant advocacy role in the re-opening of the U.S. borders in August 2005 to Canadian cattle less than 30 months of age, resulting in $6.7 million in B.C. cattle exports over the last half of the year.
- Increased access to international markets for plant nurseries as a result of work encouraging the industry to develop a certification process.
- In collaboration with other provinces, obtained federal government commitment to implement National Organic standards, which once implemented, will enhance and secure access to European and Asian markets for B.C. organic products.
- In partnership with the federal government, helped address a significant portion of the farm financial crisis with income stability program payments of $77 million.
- Committed to implement an innovative extension program in the B.C. Interior that will improve knowledge transfer and increase youth involvement in the sector.
Maintaining Public Confidence in Our Food System
The Ministry made significant advances in improving prevention, preparedness and response systems within the industry, helping to protect public health and safety, and provide competitive advantage for B.C. producers. Highlights include:
- Established a January 2007 target with the B.C. poultry industry to have in place basic biosecurity standards.
- Assisted in containing the 2005 Avian Influenza (AI) event to two farm operations, which helped to lift the control area designation within three weeks. The quick response and recovery was attributed to the implementation of key lessons learned following the 2004 AI outbreak.
- Supported work at a national level to establish tracking and traceability systems and began work with the B.C. cattle industry to implement an animal age verification system by April 2007.
- Secured funding for Containment Level 3 diagnostic laboratory expansion, which will enable the Ministry to complete a full spectrum of diagnostics in a safer environment.
Strong Environmental Performance
Substantial progress was made in encouraging and supporting application of leading-edge environmental practices in the agriculture, aquaculture and food sectors. Achievements include:
- Worked with the BC Agriculture Council to encourage farmers to prepare environmental plans for their farms which identify environmental risks and include an action plan to mitigate these risks. To date, 783 of B.C.'s 9,000 commercial farms have completed environmental farm plans and 150 have implemented the action plans, providing further assurance of the protection of the environment.
- Ensured a continued high rate of compliance in the aquaculture sector with environmental regulations — 97 per cent of farms monitored were in compliance with best management plans, which are aimed at preventing finfish escapes and provide better assurance that operators meet environmental sustainability objectives.
- Implemented the livestock waste tissue initiative to better manage processing meat waste and specified risk material.
- In partnership with the Regional District of East Kootenay and Northwest Invasive Plant Council, commenced implementation of two pilot weed control initiatives in the East Kootenays and in Northwestern B.C.
Effective Management of Crown Land and Resources
In 2005/06 the Ministry's mandate was expanded to include management of Crown lands for the province, including Crown contaminated sites. Achievements include:
- Initiated development of a Crown Land Allocation Framework to provide a more coordinated provincial approach in guiding policy development and land-use decisions.
- Led the development of legislative amendments to the Land Act and the Lands, Parks and Housing Act to allow the delegation of legal authority for aspects of Crown land management to improve provision of services to the public.
- Undertook a review of the MAL/ILMB's First Nations consultation, accommodation and relationship activities to ensure that the Ministry is meeting its emerging legal obligations and to support the New Relationship between the province and B.C.'s Aboriginal people.
- Managed remediation activities, including site investigations, on 18 contaminated sites. Specifically:
- made substantial progress on significant sites, including Britannia Mine (water treatment plant under a public-private partnership arrangement), Pacific Place and Yankee Girl Mine; and
- completed remediation of two sites, the Pitt River landfill site and the Goose Bay Cannery site located on the central coast.
