The Agricultural Land Commission found the city of Chilliwack broke the rules for subdividing farm land 66 times between 1991 and 2009.
The commission, responsible for protecting farmland, released a long-awaited report this week that looked at some 250 boundary adjustments in the Fraser Valley city.
On March 28, 2008, John Les stepped down as the minister for public safety and solicitor general after the criminal justice branch revealed following a media inquiry that Les has been under investigation since June 28, 2007 in a matter related to land dealings in Chilliwack. Les was mayor of Chilliwack from 1987 to 1999.
“The most significant impacts of the boundary adjustment subdivisions on the agricultural land base occurred when very small, or non-buildable parcels, were reconfigured into larger, building lots for rural residential purposes,” the report said.
“By both introducing rural residential parcels and using arable land for residential purposes, the agricultural land base has been negatively affected.”
The report also found that out of 115 boundary adjustment subdivisions made in 97 B.C. municipalities between 2002 and 2009, 53 of them were in Chilliwack, more than in any other municipality.
In 1994 the city enacted a policy on boundary adjustment subdivisions that was contrary to provincial law, the report said. “Had this policy found its way into an official community plan or implementing bylaw, it would likely have been inconsistent with the ALC Act, which would under the ALC Act have rendered it as having no force or effect.”
There is, however, little the ALC can now do, the report said. “The ALC cannot turn back the clock and is compelled to accept that some agricultural lands in Chilliwack have been negatively affected by a number of boundary adjustments subdivisions made by the City.”
Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.
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offended
2 years ago
Color me surprised
Not. Cant get into the report link; too much traffic, I think. Snort.
max von smartt
2 years ago
chicken coop farm
why heck i got a coop of free run chickens n roosters, pack of half wild farm dogs, 3 totally useless horses and a 4 x 4 pickup to chew up the land. just waitin to get bought out for a mcmansion; patch of blueberries n it's still a farm eh!!
Curt
2 years ago
Really?
The report also found that out of 115 boundary adjustment subdivisions made in 97 B.C. municipalities between 2002 and 2009, 53 of them were in Chilliwack, more than in any other municipality.
Surprise, surprise, surprise. Over half of them taken out is in what territory?
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You guessed it. Lieberal territory.
DPL
2 years ago
So we are still losing
So we are still losing agricultural lad here in BC. I recall a Socred leader once saying, don't worry, we can buy it( food) cheaper from California
crankypants
2 years ago
The bigger question
The bigger question is where has the ALC been during the time this was going on?
Were they on a sabbatical for those 18 years? It seems to me that this department needs to get out the Hoover and do some spring cleaning.
Earth to ALC. Of course it's too late to undo what has been done. Maybe they should try stopping things before it's too late.
Ramona777
2 years ago
Dem Libs
Now let's see .. the Liberals under Gordon Campbell have given us Basi-Virk and the subsequent and quick exit of Christy Clark, Judith Reid, Gary Collins.
We've got drunk drivers, the esteemed premier and Ms. Thornythwaite.
Bad drivers in the form of Van Dongen.
Guys who take freebies, Mr. Lekstrom.
And now possibly corrupt land dealings with Mr. Les (is more).
Just think of all the hanky-panky that went on around the Olympics.
Where do these immoral politicians come from and more importantly, who elects them?
And what's Carole James doing? Telling her MLAs to stay squeaky clean or what?
Grania
2 years ago
Names...Please
Who were the Developers? Names, Please and, if possible, government affiliation?
Curt
2 years ago
Surrey's local paper has
Surrey's local paper has another huge piece of ALR land being pulled for the continuation of an industrial park. (32nd ave to 40th ave and all along 192nd street - Good flat agriculture land) It appears Translink and the City of Surrey have control over this. The ex mayor McCallum was for PRO- developers as well as the current mayor. Nothing is sacred and nothing changes. Just different players.
freebear
2 years ago
Food? Who needs food ...
When there's shopping malls and subdivisions to be built.
Besides the mall will have a grocery store so what is the big deal!
cfvua
2 years ago
Commissions, Boards Advisory committees
All of these entities and more are at risk of going the same way as we saw yesterday with the emasculation of the BCUC. Remember that BCUC is also mandated with ICBC and all other manner of public interest responsibilities. Hopefully all folks on these entities will throw in the towel as Campbell strives for one man rule so he can pass on benefits to Liberal contributors and supporters. Recall in the fall can't come soon enough.