[VLCSolidarity] Action Item - email/write in opposition to Bill 24 - being debated at 2nd reading
- Details
- Published on Monday, 26 May 2014 12:00
- Written by editor
On Family Day there were rallies attended by thousands around BC to Save Farmland and the ALR for future generations, so it seems fitting to appeal to *YOU* again to take *ACTION* after Mother's Day — a day when we honour those who have taken a maternal role protecting and nuturing the next generation, and when we tend to contemplate what the future holds for our children and their children. Taking the long view means recognizing with growing populations, increasing costs of oil, transportation and land, it is imperative to not only protect the farmland we currently have in BC, much of which is protected in the ALR, but to protect more farmland and actively build greater local food production for tomorrow's children.
Your *VOICES* were heard! Bill 24, the Agricultural Land Commission Amendment Act, was not mentioned in the throne speech, it was a latecomer to... the legislature, only receiving 1st reading on March 27, and in mid-April Pat Pimm was replaced as Minister of Agriculture by Norm Letnick. Then on April 23 we heard from the newly appointed Minister: “The opportunity is everything from amending the bill to leaving it alone to removing the bill. I haven’t landed on any particular recommendation yet, because I’m not finished my consultation process.” (Interview with Rob Shaw, Vancouver Sun, April 23, 2014). This was the second promise of public consultation, which still has not happened in any meaningful way. Bill 24 is currently *being debated in committee <http://FarmlandProtection.us3.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=ac53a43a5b6684fe584482a41&id=36c3b14519&e=6afdb6db38>* and has not completed 2nd reading.
Some people are saying Bill 24 is a 'done deal.' It is only a 'done deal' when we stop* OPPOSING* Bill 24! Some minor amendments to Bill 24 do not address the*fundamental flaws* in Bill 24 that will effectively dismantle the ALR. *We need to kill Bill 24! * To do this we need to ensure that all BC MLAs know there is *CONTINUING OPPOSITION* to the legislation! Let us be assured it can never be said there was no *PUBLIC OUTCRY AGAINST Bill 24!* This week the legislature sits for *4 DAYS. *The following week after Victoria Day they do not sit. Then they sit for only *4 MORE DAYS* ending the Spring sessions. The legislature then does not sit again until the Oct. 6th of the Fall session.
*NOW* is the time to once again *TAKE ACTION*, write, email or call *YOUR representatives* in the BC legislature with *YOUR REASONS to KILL BILL 24*:
*Minister of Agriculture MLA: Hon. Norm Letnick <http://FarmlandProtection.us3.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=ac53a43a5b6684fe584482a41&id=ef186ea403&e=6afdb6db38>
Premier MLA: Hon. Christy Clark <http://FarmlandProtection.us3.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=ac53a43a5b6684fe584482a41&id=e95e0fb47f&e=6afdb6db38>
Minister of Energy and Mines, Minister Responsible for Core Review MLA: Hon. Bill Bennett <http://FarmlandProtection.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ac53a43a5b6684fe584482a41&id=7b874c52cb&e=6afdb6db38>
NDP Agricultural Critic, MLA: Nicholas Simons <http://FarmlandProtection.us3.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=ac53a43a5b6684fe584482a41&id=61060aa5e4&e=6afdb6db38>
Newly elected NDP Leader MLA: John Horgan <http://FarmlandProtection.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ac53a43a5b6684fe584482a41&id=fdf74b63a8&e=6afdb6db38>
Green Party MLA: Dr. Andrew Weaver <http://FarmlandProtection.us3.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=ac53a43a5b6684fe584482a41&id=047ab3d19b&e=6afdb6db38>
Adam Olsen, Interim Leader BC Green Party <http://FarmlandProtection.us3.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=ac53a43a5b6684fe584482a41&id=ceea9dca6d&e=6afdb6db38>*
*BC MLA Finder <http://FarmlandProtection.us3.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=ac53a43a5b6684fe584482a41&id=8474b69cb5&e=6afdb6db38>*
We also strongly suggest you *SHARE* your thoughts with fellow BCers by sending *LETTERS TO THE EDITOR* of your local and regional newspapers. The BC Liberal Party has conveniently created a webpage listing the *contacts for most of the newspapers in BC <http://FarmlandProtection.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ac53a43a5b6684fe584482a41&id=acfc10fb9c&e=6afdb6db38>* to "push back against misinformation and spin." So let us go ahead and take full advantage of their resource as they indicate, "Letters-to-the-editor are a powerful way to share your opinion on the issues that matter to you."
*WRITE YOUR NEWSPAPER <http://FarmlandProtection.us3.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=ac53a43a5b6684fe584482a41&id=8eef2bcc67&e=6afdb6db38>*
We know *YOU* value *PRESERVING FARMLAND* by *SAVING the ALR* in BC and want to *KILL BILL 24!! * *SHARE THIS EMAIL* *with two or more friends.* And once you have written your letter to an elected official and/or a letter-to-the-editor *SHARE YOUR LETTER with two or more friends* and *encourage them to write their own letter.* Let your *VOICES BE HEARD far and wide!!*
Sincerely.
Nathalie Chambers and Ben Isitt
THE FARMLAND PROTECTION COALITION
Web. *www.FarmlandProtection.ca
Find us on *Facebook <http://FarmlandProtection.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ac53a43a5b6684fe584482a41&id=d80560067b&e=6afdb6db38>*
