VICTORIA — The B.C. cabinet minister who is the driving force behind proposed changes to the province’s Agricultural Land Reserve says the contentious legislation will not be delayed or fundamentally altered as a result of new public consultation.

Core Review Minister Bill Bennett said Thursday that a provincewide town hall proposed by Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick is respectful and welcome, but won’t lead to major revisions or delays on the ALR bill before the legislature.

“There is the potential for changes, but they wouldn’t be anything fundamental,” Bennett said in an interview.

“The bill is going to pass this session, and it’s going to have two zones in it. There is tremendous support in the Peace (region), and Cariboo and Kootenays for this.”

Bennett crafted the ALR legislation and announced it last month as part of a core review process designed to find efficiencies within government. Letnick inherited the file when he was named agriculture minister two weeks later, and has since suggested the bill might be altered or delayed pending his own consultation with farmers.

Bennett’s comments throw cold water on that idea, as well as any major revisions suggested by the B.C. Agriculture Council.

The council, which represents 14,000 farmers and ranchers, has asked government to abandon its plan to split the ALR into two administrative zones, because it says that would open up protected farmland in the Interior, the north and the Kootenays to development projects.

“The two zones, that’s not changing,” said Bennett.

“That’s going to be part of the bill. It doesn’t make sense to even do the legislation if you don’t have the two zones.”

Rules over farmland on Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, Okanagan Valley and Fraser Valley wouldn’t change under the new system.

Council members met with Letnick for seven hours Wednesday to air their concerns. In response, Letnick said he’d launch a provincewide consultation process before he makes up his mind.

“Am I open to consultation and listening? Absolutely and I’m glad that Minister Letnick is doing it,” Bennett said.

“Am I open to changes to the legislation? That’s really up to cabinet and caucus, but I can tell you that government is not interested in fundamentally changing or delaying the bill. The bill will pass.”

Bennett also brushed aside the agriculture council’s concern over regional panels of commissioners who have power to approve farmland development applications, but whom the council feels could be influenced by local lobbyists. Bennett said the regional panels have existed since 2003 and he doesn’t understand the sudden problem.

The B.C. Liberals enjoy the majority of seats in the legislature necessary to force the bill into law next month at the conclusion of the spring session.

Bennett praised Letnick for “respectful” consultations with farmers and ranchers, and said they will perhaps help inform future regulations related to the legislation.

rshaw@vancouversun.com

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