Last Thursday “we” (the community farm/garden folk [about 50 families & individuals]on a 11 acre ALR) were informed our appeal to keep farm status was rejected by BC Assessment. This will result in a substantial increase to plot owners for this year without the tax and water breaks given to regular farmers.

Over the weekend, our Lieutenant Governor Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia was submitted by hand, by our MLA Kristina Loewen, our petition to maintain Farm status. Kristina will be visiting our community farm garden on Friday. (Hopefully the clay will be firm enough to not need plastic bags taped to your footwear to avoid getting taller).

Much discussion is going between many people regarding this bureaucratic mess between CRA, and BC assessment regarding what is considered a farm. Personally, I’m working towards a degree in law, waiting through the legalese just to understand what wording needs to change to allow something that works for everyone.

Of course, an Order by the Lieutenant Governor is like a sword that can cut through bureaucratic, Gordian knots. Its a matter of what needs to be worded in order to allow more PTA (People Per Acre) to grow food, without it being so ridiculously expensive. For example, a farmer of 10 acres showing $2,500 of income is entitled to farm status. But an individual with less than an acre, has to show $10,000. Things get pretty complicated after that. Feel free to figure out an easy ask for our Brand New (January this year) Lieutenant Governor to Order.

First, you have to know what a farm is.

Read this: Classification of Land as a Farm Regulation

If you figured out the “simple ” stuff, here is something else to inform yourself about. The BC Assessment Act:

Can someone figure out how to ask their AI to figure it out?

UPDATE ():

Previous Update: link