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Situation Analysis Southern Gulf Islands Food and Agriculture Strategy August 2016

| Regional Planning

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SituationAnalysis-SouthernGulfIslandsFoodandAgricultureStrategy

AgricultureandAgri-FoodCanada,theBCMinistryofAgricultureandtheInvestmentAgricultureFoundationofBC,arepleasedtoparticipateinthedeliveryofthisproject.Wearecommittedtoworkingwithourindustrypartnerstoaddressissuesofimportancetotheagricultureandagri-foodindustryinBritishColumbia.OpinionsexpressedinthisreportarethoseoftheauthorsandnotnecessarilythoseoftheInvestmentAgricultureFoundation,theB.C.MinistryofAgricultureorAgricultureandAgri-FoodCanada.

SituationAnalysis-SouthernGulfIslandsFoodandAgricultureStrategy 1

TableofContents

Introduction...........................................................................................................................2Purpose...........................................................................................................................................................................................4Approach........................................................................................................................................................................................4

BiophysicalContext................................................................................................................6Geology...........................................................................................................................................................................................6Soils..................................................................................................................................................................................................6Climate,...........................................................................................................................................................................................8Hydrology......................................................................................................................................................................................8

HistoryofAgricultureintheSouthernGulfIslands...............................................................10FirstNations..............................................................................................................................................................................10Settlement..................................................................................................................................................................................10IslandSpecificHistory..........................................................................................................................................................11

FoodandAgricultureSituationToday...................................................................................17AgriculturalLandBase.........................................................................................................................................................19AgriculturalActivities...........................................................................................................................................................24FarmPractices..........................................................................................................................................................................29Food-relatedActivities.........................................................................................................................................................30FarmSizeandCharacteristicsofFarmers....................................................................................................................34EconomicSituation.................................................................................................................................................................38

Planning&PolicyContext.....................................................................................................42Governance................................................................................................................................................................................42AgriculturalGovernanceFrameworkOverview.......................................................................................................42ProvincialGovernance..........................................................................................................................................................42LocalGovernance....................................................................................................................................................................45LocalGovernmentAct...........................................................................................................................................................45

ChallengesandOpportunities...............................................................................................49IdentifiedOpportunities......................................................................................................................................................49IdentifiedChallenges.............................................................................................................................................................51

AppendixA:ProvincialandFederalLegislation.....................................................................54FederalPolicy&Legislation...............................................................................................................................................54


Introduction

TheSouthernGulfIslandsEconomicDevelopmentCommission(SGIEDC),inpartnershipwiththeCapitalRegionalDistrict’s(CRD)PlanningandProtectionServicesDepartment,hasinitiatedanagriculturalplanningprocessfortheSouthernGulfIslandsElectoralArea(SGIEA).

LocatedintheprotectedwatersoftheStraitofGeorgia,theSouthernGulfIslandsElectoralArea(SGIEA)iscomposedofmorethanseventyislands.TheelectoralareastretchesfromGalianoIslandtoD'ArcyIsland,encompassing216squarekilometres.ItincludesGaliano,Mayne,NorthandSouthPender,SaturnaIslandsaswellasanumberofsmallerassociatedislands.

ThisuniqueunincorporatedareaisunderthejointjurisdictionoftheCRDandtheIslandsTrust.TheCRDprovidesmanyofthelocalgovernmentfunctionsandservicesnormallyfoundwithinaMunicipalityortown,whiletheIslandTrustregulatesalllanduseandadministersOfficialCommunityPlanswithintheareathroughthe5LocalTrustCommittees(LTC).TheIslandsTrustanditsLTCsareinvolvedintheagriculturalplanningprocess.

TheSouthernGulfIslandsEconomicDevelopmentCommission(SGIEDC)wasestablishedbyCRDbylawinAprilof2012,and2013wasthefirstfullyearofCommissionactivity.ThecorelegislatedobjectivesoftheCommissionareto:

• Worktowardachievingaresilientandsustainablelocaleconomythroughinitiativesthatcontribute,notonlytoeconomicprosperity,butalsotosocialequityandenvironmentalquality;and

• Assistinpreservingandstrengtheningexistingbusiness,attractingnewbusinessandcoordinatinglocaleconomicdevelopmentinitiativesthatcontributetoeconomicprosperity,socialequity,andenvironmentalquality.

TheoverarchingapproachoftheCommissionistofosterinter-islandcooperationandregionalinitiativeswithintheSGIEAthatsupportthedevelopmentofasustainablelocaleconomy.

Promptedbybroadcommunityinterestandsupport,theCommissionhasidentifiedfoodandagricultureasoneofitssevenstrategicareas.TheCommissionwithsupportfromtheCRDRegionalPlanningoffice,andtheIslandsTrusthasreceivedfundingfromtheGasTaxCommunityFundandAgricultureandAgri-FoodCanadaandtheBCMinistryofAgriculturetoinitiateaFoodandAgriculture

Figure1.TheSouthernGulfIslands.Source:BCFerries


StrategyandsupportingAgriculturalLandUseInventory(AALUI)andAgricultureWaterDemandModel(AWDM)fortheSouthernGulfIslandsElectoralArea(SGIEA).FederalandprovincialfundingforthestrategyandsupportingprojectswasdeliveredbytheInvestmentAgricultureFoundationofBC(IAF)throughtheAgriculturalAreaPlanningProgram.

TheSGIEDCestablishedtheSouthernGulfIslandsFoodandAgricultureStrategySteeringCommitteetoguideandfacilitatethedevelopmentoftheStrategyandensurethatitisresponsivetocommunityneedsatlocalandregionallevels.

TheobjectivesoftheStrategyareto:

• EnhancelocalfoodandagricultureasavitalpartoftheSouthernGulfIslandseconomy;and• Supportandincreasethelong-termresiliencyoftheislandcommunitiesinthisuniquearea.

Thearchipelago-wideStrategyisseenasanimportantstepfortheIslandstore-establishasustainableandviablelocalagricultureindustryinamannerthatengagesandinvolvesthecommunitiesbeyondthecompletionoftheplanningprocess,creatingasenseofownershipoftheoutcomestoensurethesuccessfulimplementationoftherecommendations.TheFoodandAgricultureStrategywillprovideaclearandrobustroadmapforgoingforwardthatrespondstotheuniqueneedsandsituationofeachislandwhileprovidingacollectiveframeworkandapproachforthearchipelago.ItshouldestablishasharedfoodandagriculturevisionfortheSouthernGulfIslandsthatprotectsandpromoteslocalagriculture,improvesfoodsecurity,strengthensthelocaleconomy,protectsandenhancesnaturalsystems,andhonourstheareassignificantculturalheritage.

Theprojectscopeincludes:

• WorkingcloselywiththeCommission’sprojectmanagerandSteeringCommitteethathasbeenestablishedtoguidetheprocess;

• InvestigatingthecontextforagricultureintheSouthernGulfIslands,includingidentifyingchallengesandopportunities;

• Involvingthelocalfoodandagriculturesector,communityandFirstNationsincompellingandmeaningfulwaysthroughouttheprocess;

• LiaisingwithCRDRegionalPlanningServices,SGIEDC,IslandsTrustandotherrelevantorganizations;

• WorkingwiththeMinistryofAgriculturetodevelopasupportingAgriculturalLandUseInventoryandWaterDemandModel

• CompletingadraftStrategyforreviewandcomment;and• PreparingafinalStrategyandpresentingthefindingstotheCRDboard.

ThissituationanalysisprovidesanoverviewofagricultureandthelocalgovernmentcontextintheSouthernGulfIslands,asbackgroundfordevelopmentoftheFoodandAgricultureStrategy.Keysourcesreviewedinthepreparationofthisdocumentinclude:

• OfficialCommunityPlansforGaliano,Mayne,NorthandSouthPender,SaturnaandtheAssociatedIslands(variousyears)

• AgriculturalCensusData,CSRDCensusDivision(2001,2006,2011)


Purpose

Thevalueofthesespecializedplanningprocessesisthattheyallowlocalgovernmentsandcommunitiestofocusonagricultureand,inrecentyears,food-relatedissuesandactivities.TodaytheAgriculturalLandCommission(ALC),theMinistryofAgriculture(AGRI)andtheInvestmentAgricultureFoundation(IAF)activelyencourageandsupportlocalgovernmentinitiativestodevelopagriculturalplansandstrategiesfortheirjurisdictions.

Itiscommonforagriculturalplanningprocessestoconsideranumberofissuesbeyondlanduse.Thesetypicallyincludeeconomics,sustainabilityandenvironmentalprotection,educationandtraining,andfoodsecurityandsovereignty.Agriculturalplanningprocessesprovidecommunitieswithanopportunitytounderstandandconsiderthecurrentstateofaffairsforlocalfoodandagriculture,andidentifyandchooseapathforabetterfuture.

Afoodandagriculturestrategyfocusesonacommunity'sfoodandfarmingsectortodiscoverpracticalsolutionstoissuesandidentifyopportunitiestostrengthenthefoodandfarmingsectorinamannerthatbenefitsthesector,localagricultureandultimatelythecommunity'slong-termsustainabilityandresiliency.StrategiesdifferfromplansinthattheyarenotintegratedwithinoraspartofanOCP–thoughtheymaystillinformorbereferencedbythem.

TheSGIFoodandAgricultureStrategydiffersfromtraditionalagriculturalstrategiesbecauseitisconcernedwithbothfoodandagriculturalissues.ThepurposeoftheSGIFASistodevelopagreementaboutwhattheSouthernGulfIslandsandtheirindividualislandcommunitieswilldoto:

• EnhancelocalfoodandagricultureasavitalpartoftheSouthernGulfIslandseconomy;and• Supportandincreasethelong-termresiliencyoftheislandcommunitiesinthisuniquearea.

Approach

Likeallplanningprocesses,somearemoresuccessfulthanothers.Successfulplansorstrategies:aredevelopedandownedbythecommunityinamannerthatbothexcitesandmotivatesthem;providecommunitieswiththemeans,beliefandabilitytosuccessfullyimplementthem;andresultinmeasurablebenefitstothelocalfoodandagricultureeconomy.

Keyelementscriticalforsuccessinclude:

• Communityandsectorinterestinthetopicarea–thisneedstobeidentifiedasarealandimportantissuebythecommunity;

• Significantpreparationbeforeformallyinitiatingtheplanningprocesstodeterminetheguidingpurposeandoverarchinggoals;

• Localleadership(communitychampions)andownershipoftheplanningprocessthroughapurpose-builtsteeringcommitteethatrepresentsthesectorandincludespoliticalrepresentativesthatcansupporttheprocessduringandbeyondthedevelopmentoftheplanorstrategy;

• Deepandinnovativesectorandpublicengagementapproachesthatbuildrelationships,trustandunderstanding;and

• Adequateresourcingincludingsupportforthesteeringcommittee,outsideexpertise,publicandsectorengagement,andimplementation.


Agriculturalplanning,likeallcommunityplanningprocesses,isdemandingwork.Manythingsthatarebeyondacommunity’sdirectcontrolimpactlocalfoodandagriculturesystems.Theseincludeglobalizedmarketforces,climatechange,andprovincial,federalandinternationallegislationandregulations,theimpactandnatureofwhichisnotclearorpredictable.Thefoodandagriculturalsystemsandthepossibilityofimprovingtheirviability–evenatacommunitylevel-isthedefinitionofatoughorcomplexchallenge,whichcannotbesuccessfullyaddressedbyapplyingfocusedorbestpracticesolutionsthatmayhaveworkedinthepast.Thesekindofchallengescanonlybetackled“bygrowing‘nextpractice’solutions.”1Itisalsosuggestthatcomplexchallengesdemandamoredifferent,morecomprehensiveapproach,onethatissystemic,strategic,adaptableorexperimental,andsocial.2

Asocial,community-focusedapproachunderpinstheSGIFAS.Assuchitwill:

• Engage,exciteandbroadlyinvolvetheSouthernGulfIslandElectoralAreacommunity–thisincludesfarmers,gardeners,cooks,eaters–anyonewithaninterestinthedevelopmentofalocal,thrivingandresilientfoodandagricultureeconomy;

• Buildlocalinterestandcapacitythroughtheapplicationofparticipatoryapproaches;• Createanimplementableplanthatisreadilyunderstoodandsupportedbythecommunity;• Buildonthefoodandagriculturalworkthathasandisbeingdoneineachislandcommunity

resultinginaSouthernGulfIslandapproach;• ConnecttheSouthernGulfIslandswithneighboringcommunitiesintheCapitalRegionthathave

completedoraredevelopingagriculturestrategiesandplans;• Serveasamodelprocessthatadvocatesforthedevelopmentoflong-termagricultural

strategiesforothercommunitiesintheIslandTrustArea;and• MeettherequirementsestablishedbytheSGIEDCandProjectSteeringCommittee.

1 Kahane,Adam,2010.PowerandLove:ATheoryandPracticeofSocialChange.Berrett-KoehlerPublishers,Inc.San2 Hassan,Zaid,2014.TheSocialLabsRevolution:ANewApproachtoSolvingOurMostComplexChallenges.Berrett-Koehler

Publishers,Inc.SanFrancisco.


BiophysicalContext

Geology

ThegeologicallandscapeoftheSouthernGulfIslandsischaracterizedbyafoldedandfaultedsuccessionofmetamorphic,plutonicandsedimentaryrocksthathasdevelopedoverpast400millionyears.DuringthistimeancientvolcanicislandarcscollidedwithandweresubductedbeneaththewesternplatemarginofNorthAmerica,themountainbeltsthatoncetoweredalongthecoasthavesincebeenerodedintoflankingmarinebasins,andglaciershavecomeandgonemodifyingtheremainsofthisancientgeologicallandscape.TheearthquakesthatoccasionallyoccurinthisregionareareminderthatthesegeologicprocessesarestillactivetodayalongthisboundarybetweenwesternNorthAmericaandtheoceaniccrustoftheJuandeFucaandPacificplates.

TheoldestcomponentofthebedrockfoundationofVancouverIslandandtheSouthernGulfIslandsisacollageofmetamorphic,igneousandsedimentaryrocks,knowncollectivelyasWrangellia.Theserocksrepresenttherelicsofislandarcandoceaniccrustalfragments,manyofwhichwerederivedfromdistantpartsofthePacificOceanbasinandassembledalongtheancientcontinentalmarginofNorthAmericaabout200millionyearsago.

ThecollisionofterranesalongthewesternNorthAmericanplatemarginresultedinfoldingandfaultingofmetamorphic,igneousandsedimentaryrocksintheGulfIslandregion.Thecoincidenceofinter-layeredformationsofshaleandsandstone/conglomerate,theirnorthwesterlyalignedfoldedstructureandtheerodingpowerofsoutheasterlymovingglacialicehaveresultedintheprominentnorth-westerly-southeasterlyalignmentoftheGulfIslands.Throughouttheseislands,prominentheadlandsandhighridgesareformedfromerosion-resistantsandstoneandconglomerate,whereasthenarrowbaysandvalleysaresculptedfromsofterandmoreeasilyerodedshale.

Duringglaciationthecrustofthisareawasdepressedbeneaththeweightoftheiceandsealevelwasloweredbecausewaterwasremovedfromtheoceanstoformglaciers.Astheicemeltedthedepressedcrustandloweredsealevelsregainedtheirformerelevations,resultinginmarkedchangestoshorelinesintheareaaswellasthedistributionandtypesofforestcover.Modernsealevelwasreachedabout5,000yearsagoandsincethenhaschangedverylittle.TheeffectsofglaciationintheGulfIslandsareconspicuous.Bedrockexposurescommonlyarestriatedandgrooved,dramaticallyshowingtheerosiveeffectsofice-entraineddebrisduringthelastglaciation,between30,000and10,000yearsago.

Soils

ThesoilsintheGulfIslandswerefirstmappedinthe1950s,whenanincreasingpopulationontheislandsledtoademandforlandplanningandagriculturalinformation.Anumberofsurveyshavebeenconductedsincethen,themostrecentofwhichresultedinthemapsproducedhere.Fieldworkforthisdatasetwascompletedin1983,andSoilsoftheGulfIslandsofBritishColumbiawaspublishedin1987.Thedatawerecollectedbyinterpretingaerialphotosanddiggingsoilpits.SoilswereclassifiedaccordingtotheCanadianSystemofSoilClassification.

ThesoilsoftheSouthernGulfIslandsandsoutheasternVancouverIslandaredistinctandmorediversefromtherestofBritishColumbia’scoast.Thislargelybecausetheclimateissunnier,drierandwarmerasaresultoftherainshadowcreatedbythemountainsofVancouverIslandandWashington’sOlympicPeninsula.Itisalsobecauseofvariationsinbothclimateandparentmaterialoververyshortdistances.


Garryoakwoodlandsgrowwheresummersoilmoistureislowandsoilsareshallow;Douglasfirforestsoccurondeeper,well-drainedsoils;andwetlandsoccuronpoorlydrained,water-saturatedsoils.

LocalvariationsinclimateareduetotheGulfIslands’positionattheinterfaceoftheStraitofGeorgia,theJuandeFucaStraitandtheFraserValley,wheretheyaresubjecttoacomplexmixofweathersystems.Inaddition,theseislandshavesignificanttopographicreliefthatcreatesmicroclimateswiththeirownminiaturerainshadoweffects.

ThebedrockintheGulfIslandsincludesbothmetamorphicandsedimentaryrocks,whichhavebeenaffectedbyglaciationintwoways.First,glaciersscrapedtheGulfIslandsdowntobedrockinsomeplacesanddepositedlargeamountsofsedimentinothers.Wheresedimentformstheparentmaterial,thesoilsaremoreproductivebecausewaterandplantrootscaneasilypenetratetheporesinthesedeposits.Second,onseveraloccasionstheweightoftheglacierspushedtheGulfIslandspartwaybelowsealevel,resultinginmarineinfluenceontheparentmaterials,exceptatafewhigh-elevationsitesthatwerenotsubmerged.

Soilsareformedfromacombinationoffivehighlyinterrelatedfactorsthatinfluencedepth,composition,andlevelsofmoistureandnutrients:

• Climate-Highertemperaturesgenerallyleadtohigherratesofbedrockweatheringandfastersoilformation.Higherprecipitationlevelsgenerallyleadtohighersoilmoisturelevels,whichencourageweathering.

• LivingorganismsPlantsaffectsoilsfrombothaboveandbelowtheground.Leaves,needles,twigsandconesprovideorganicmaterialthatdecomposesintohumus;becausetheorganicmaterialinconiferousforestsistypicallymoreacidicthaninhardwoodforests,thesoilsinconiferousforestsarealsomoreacidic.Rootsreducesoilerosionbyanchoringthesoilsurfaceand,whentheydieanddecay,createhumus;becausegrasseshavesuchfibrousrootsystems,thesoilsbeneathgrasseshavemuchlargerhumuslayersthanthosebeneathforests.

• ParentmaterialParentmaterialistherockandmineralmaterial,eitherbedrockorsediment,fromwhichsoildevelops;itinfluencesthemineralmakeupofthesoil.

• TopographySlopeandaspectinfluencesoildevelopment.Likewater,topsoilgenerallymovesfromhigherplacesinalandscapetolowerplaces,creatingthickerandmorefertilesoilinvalleybottoms.Steeperslopesresultinmoreerosionandresisttheformationofasoillayer.

• TimeTheamountoftimerequiredforsoilstodevelopindepthandcomplexitydependsonallfourofthepreviousfactors.

SoilTypes

Soilscientistsclassifysoilbasedonhowithasbeenformed.Likelivingorganisms,soilsareclassifiedhierarchically.TheCanadianSystemofSoilClassificationcontainsfivecategories:order,greatgroup,subgroup,familyandseries.Soilsaremostoftendescribedbytheirorder.ThesoilordersortypesthatareprevalentintheSouthernGulfIslandsinclude:

• Brunisolicsoils-soilsthatshowtheeffectsofclimateandplantandanimallife.Asthesoilsareweathered,themineralsreleaseironthatgivestheuppersoilabrownishcolour.Brunisolicsoilsarenothighlyleached,sotheyaregenerallyeasytomanageforgrowingplants.

• Gleysolicsoils-mineralsoilsthataresaturatedwithwaterforprolongedperiodsoftime,includingmuchofthegrowingseason.Theyarefoundonflatsorindepressions,wherever


wateraccumulates.Commonlythesesoilshaveanorganicallyenrichedsurfaceunderlainbyadarkgreysubsoil.Thedarkcolourresultsfromanaccumulationofpartiallydecomposedorganicmatterandindicatesthatthesoilhasbeensosaturatedwithwaterthattherehasnotbeenenoughairtofacilitatedecomposition.Gleysolsareneitherleachedofnutrientsnorhighlyweathered,thustheyareproductive,prizedagriculturalsoilsiftheyareartificiallydrained.

• Organicsoils-soilsthathavemorethan30%organicmatterbyweight.Commonnaturalvegetationincludessedges,reeds,cattails,dwarfwillows,hardhack,dwarfedpineandmosses.Organicsoilsaresaturatedwithwateralmostthroughouttheyear.Dependingonthedegreeofdecomposition,theyarecalledpeats(slightlydecomposed)ormucks(highlydecomposed).

• Podzolicsoils-sometimesreferredtoas“true”forestsoils.Theyarewell-drainedmineralsoilsthathaveformedunderamoist,temperateclimatethathasallowedleachingtooccurfreelyandirontobereleasedinabundancefromtheoriginalmineralsintheparentmaterial.Thesesoilscharacteristicallyhaveadistinctforestfloor(leaves,twigs,woodymaterials),occasionallyunderlainbyathingreyishlayerandabrowntoreddish-brownsubsoil.Althoughhighlyproductivefortreegrowth,podzolsarelesssuitedforagriculture.Theyusuallyrequiretheadditionoflimeandfertilizerformostcrops.

• Regosolicsoils-“young”soils,suchasshallowsoilsonbedrock,activefloodplains(newparentmaterialaftereachflood),shiftingdunes,beaches,landslides,etc.

• MadeLand-Soilsthathavebeenartificiallyalteredordisturbedbytheactivitiesofhumanstosuchadegreethattheycannotbeidentifiedandclassified.

Climate3,4

TheclimateoftheSouthernGulfIslandsisstronglyinfluencedbyrainshadoweffectsoftheOlympicMountainstothesouthinWashingtonandof“InsularMountains'ofVancouverIslandtothewestandismoderatedbytheocean.TheclimateoftheGulfIslandsisconsideredtobeatransitionalcoolMediterraneanclimatecharacterizedbycool,drysummersandhumid,mildwinters.Januarymeantemperaturesgenerallyrangefrom2.9OCto3.8OCwithameanminimumtemperatureofjustbelowfreezing.Mostofthemeanannualprecipitation(800-850mm)occursduringthemonthsofOctobertoApril.MeantemperaturesinJulygenerallyrangebetweenlocationsfrom16.3OCto17.3OCwithameanmaximumof22-24OC.Lessthan5%ofthemeanannualprecipitationfallsduringJulyandAugust.Also,duringMay-SeptemberthesouthernGulfIslandsareconsideredtobeoneofthesunniestplacesinCanadawith1,300-1,400hoursofbrightsunshine.Thesesummerclimaticconditionsresultbothinsoilmoisturedeficitsforcropproduction,particularlyoncoarse-texturedsoils,andinahighhazardforforestfires.Thisuniqueclimatehasresultedindiversehabitatsthatsupportanabundanceofplantsandanimals.

Hydrology

FreshwatersourcesontheSouthernGulfIslandsarelimited.TheSouthernGulfIslandsrelyprimarilyongroundwaterfordomesticandagriculturaluse,astherearerelativelyfewephemeralstreamsandveryfewlakesandponds.Thereareafewreservoirspresentthatprovideasourceofwaterforcommunity

3 vanVliet,L.,A.GreenandE.Kenney.1987.SoilsoftheGulfIslandsofBritishColumbia:Volume1,SoilsofSaltSpringIsland.ResearchBranch,AgricultureCanada.Vancouver,BC.

4 http://cpaws.org/uploads/pubs/atlas-gulf.pdf


watersystemslikeMagicLakeEstatesonNorthPenderIsland.Manyfarmsandpropertiessupportingagriculturalorfood-relativehaveestablishedretentionpondsanddugoutstostorewaterforirrigationpurposes.Limitedgroundwaterstorageisfoundinthefaultsandfracturesinthebedrockandincontactzonesbetweenshaleandsandstonebedrock.Allrechargetopotablegroundwatercomesfromprecipitationwhichfallsduringthelatefallandwinterperiod.Precipitationfluctuations,alongwithincreasedwaterdemandfrompopulationgrowthanddevelopment,havealreadycontributedtosaltwaterintrusion,increasednumbersofabandonedwellsandsignificantdeclinesinwaterqualityduringthesummermonths.

IntheGulfIslands,twotypesofaquifersexist:fracturedrockandsandandgravellayers.Fracturedbedrockaquifersprovidetheprimarysourceoffreshwaterforthemajorityofislandresidents.Fracturesinbedrocklocatedbelowthewatertablefillwithwaterandprovidefreshwatertosurroundingwells.Thedensityoffracturesandtheproximitytomajorfaultshaveanimpactonthewateryieldfromindividualwells.

GeologyintheGulfIslandsisgenerallyinterlayeredsandstoneandmudstone-dominantformations.Mudstoneformationsaremoredenselyfracturedthansandstoneformations,asaresulttheyhaveagreaterwaterstoragecapacityandactasaquifersasdoSidneyandJamesislands,whichhavesignificantdepositsofQuadraSands.


HistoryofAgricultureintheSouthernGulfIslands

FirstNations

TheSouthernGulfIslandsarepartofthetraditionalterritoryofanumberofFirstNationsincludingWSANEC(Tsartlip,TsawoutandTsecum)andPenelekutFirstNations.AboriginalactivitiesinthearchipelagodatebackthousandsofyearswithanarcheologicalfindonOrcasIslandprovidinghumanevidenceofhumanactivityasfarbackas14,000yearsago.5

FirstNations’relationshipwiththeisland’smarineandlandecosystemsdevelopedoverthemillennia,resultinginaculturallymodifiedlandandseascapethatprovidedformanyoftheirneeds.Foodswereharvested,gathered,cultivatedandpreservedinquantitiesthatsustainedtheircommunitiesandmettheirspiritual,ceremonial,socialandtraderequirements.Overthistime,FirstNations’developedaverysophisticatedandplace-basedrelationshipwiththeSalishSealandandseascape.Aswearenowlearning,manyoftheirmethodsforsecuringaccesstoadependablefoodsourcecouldbeconsideredatypeoffarming.

FirstNationscommunitiesintheSouthSalishSeadevelopedandmaintainedextensiveclamgardensinshorelineareas,camasgardensinGaryOakmeadows,bothofwhichsuggesttheongoingcultivation,selectionandmanagementofanimportantfoodsource.Thepresenceofancientreefnetsites,thesophisticationoftheirharvest,processinganddistributionsystems,theidentificationandsharingofspecificinformationandknowledgethathelpedensurearegularandrepeatedaccesstodependablefoodsources,andthecomplexnatureoftheceremoniesandculturalactivitiessurroundingtheharvest,preparation,distributionandconsumptionoffood,suggestsaculturethathadmovedwellbeyondwhatwehavepreviouslyandpejorativelydescribedashunter-gatherer.Itcouldbesaidthattheyhaddevelopedanindigenousfoodsystemwhilesubjecttothevagariesofclimateandsocialstrife,wasacloserapproximationofthelocalandsustainablefoodsystemmanyofourcommunities’desiretoday.Theirfoodsystem–whichwastrulysystemicinitsunderstandingandmanagement–wasafarcryfromtheonethatnowdominatestheGulfIslandsandthemuchoftheworldtoday.

Settlement

Europeanexplorersarrivedintheareatowardtheendofthe18thCentury.Manyoftheislands,theirwaterways,baysandharboursnowcarrythenamesoftheSpanishandEnglishexplorerswhoarrivedatthistime:NarvaezBay,VesuviusBayandGaliano,Valdes,andMayneIslands.Theshipsthatbroughtlaterexplorersinthe19thcenturyalsoliveonintheirnamesakes:PlumperSound,theSaltSpringtownofGanges,SatelliteandTrincomaliChannels,tonameafew.

Non-nativesettlementoftheSouthernGulfIslandsbeganaroundthemid-1800swiththefirstrecordedprivatelandpurchaseoccurringonNorthPenderIslandin1855.Atthistime,thepopulationofportcityofVictoriawasrapidlyincreasingpromptingthethenGovernorJamesDouglastoencouragepeopletopromoteSaltSpringIslandasafood-producinghinterlandforVictoria.WhileSaltSpringreceivedmostoftheattention,anumberofsettlerschosetolocateintheSouthernGulfIslands.ThefirstrecordedsettlerarrivedonMayneIslandin1863.Theotherislandsweresettledshortlythereafterandthe

5 http://qmackie.com/2010/04/24/orcas-bison/


populationoftheareagrewslowly.In1886thevoters’listrecorded16menforMayneIsland,7forthePenders,2forSaturnaand1forPrevostIsland.

Inthemid-1850s,goldfevercatapultedMinersBayonMayneIslandintoanactiveportandoneofthefirstCrowncolonies.GoldseekersfromVancouverIslandandtheUnitedStatespassingthroughActivePassontheirwaytoseekFraserRiverGoldestablishedMinersBayasoneofthefirstSouthernGulfIslandssettlements.

FollowingtheGoldRush,non-aboriginalsettlerswereprincipallyhomesteadersandfarmerswhosoldexcessproducttomarketsonVancouverIslandandtheLowerMainland.MayneIslandiscreditedwithbeingthefirstplaceinBritishColumbiatogrowapplesandoneofthefirstplacestogrowhothousetomatoes.Intheearlyyears,producefromGulfIslands’orchardswashighlyprizedandprofitable.Abandonedorchardscanstillbefoundonmanyoftheislandstoday.Sheepandlamb,dairyandbeefcattle,poultryandhayhavebeenthemainagriculturalproductsalongwithsmalleramountsofvegetablesandfruitproducedforalocalmarket.

Schoolsopened,otherislandsweresettled,andfarmingandtradingbeganmoreearnestly.TheboundarybetweentheUnitedStatesandCanadawasestablishedin1872officiallyseparatingtheGulfIslandsfromtheSanJuanIslands.Thoughinitiallyquiteporous,allowingforthenon-authorizedmovementofgoodsbetweentheSanJuansandtheGulfIslands,thisborderhasbecomeincreasingly‘hardened’inrecentdecadesallbuteliminatingthemovementofgoodsandservicesbetweentheislandcommunities.

FarmingintheSouthernGulfIslandsintheearlydayssuppliedthelocalpopulation.ExcessproductwasshippedtomarketsonSaltSpring,VancouverIslandandtheLowerMainland.Anumberoffactorshavecontributedtoasteadydeclineinproductionincludingincreasedcompetitionfromothermarkets,thecostandinconvenienceofshipping,lackofgoodqualitylandandreductioninnumberoffarmers.

TheBCFerries’GulfIslandServicebeganin1961,andprovidedregularvehicleaccesstoandbetweenthelargerSouthernGulfIslandsincludingSaltSpringIslandwiththetakeoverofGulfIslandsNavigationCo.althoughferriesonlytravelledtoSwartzBay(Victoria).TraveltoTsawwassenbeganin1963.BeforeBCFerries,theGulfIslandswereservedbyseveralferrycompaniesincludingtheUnionSteamshipCompanyandtheCanadianPacificRailway,bothofwhichhadshipsconnectingtownsandislandsalongthecoast.

Intheearly1980stheamountofAgriculturalLandReserveoneachofthelargerislandswasabout382haonGaliano,378haonMayne,326onNorthPender,190haonSouthPenderand1028haonSaturnaIsland.AtthetimetheIslandsTrustwasestablishedtheeconomicbaseoftheislandswascenteredonfarming,fishing,logging,tourism,retirementlivingandtheservicesthattheserequired.

IslandSpecificHistory

GalianoIsland6

GalianoIslandwasnamedafterthecommanderoftheSpanishvessel,Sutil’s,aschoonerexploringtheStraitofGeorgiain1792.LongbeforeGalianoarrived,however,theCoastSalishhadsummercamps

6 http://www.gulfislandsguide.com/history/gabriola-island-history/


here,asevidencedbytheextensiveshellmiddensatMontagueHarbourand…

Earlysettlersfoundthesoilunfriendlyandwaterscarce,turninginsteadtofishing,hunting,sheepandfruitgrowingtomakeendsmeet.Galianowasgenerallyregardedastheleastfertileforitssize.Thefirstareastobeclearedforfarmingwereinwetdepressionsthatretainedmoistureforlongerperiodsandhadheavystone-freesoils.Oncedrainagewasprovided,theseareas–mainlylocatedatthesouthwesternendoftheisland–werewellsuitedforpasture,vegetablesandhay.Fruittreeswereplantedupslopeongravellyandbetterdrainedsoils.Cattlewerepasturedonthehighergroundwithinthecultivatedareasandsheepwereoftengrazedintheopenforestandonpoorerrockysoils.Mostofthepopulationisconcentratedinthisareaoftheislandtoday.

IntheearlydaysitwascommonforresidentstorowacrosstreacherousActivePasstoMayneIslandfortheirmail,achurchservice,oreventohaveadrinkatthebustlingSpringwaterLodgeatMinersBay.

BeforeWWII,asalteryandcannerywerestartedbytheJapaneseonGaliano(when?)buthadashortlifeduetothesubsequentinternmentoftheJapanese.

MayneIsland78

NamedinhonourofLieut.RichardCharlesMayneaboardthesurveyingvesselH.M.S.Plumper,in1857,itwasanimportantrestpointalongtheroutetotheGoldRush.In1900followingthecollapseoftheGoldRush,MayneIslandbecamethePacificNorthwestdestinationforadventuroustourists.

Asearlyas3000B.C.thereisevidenceofNanaimoandCowichanFirstNationspeoplesusingHelenPointatthesouthentrancetoActivePassasafishingstation.OverthelastcenturiesgatheringshellfishandtrappingSalmoninreefnetswasanimportantfoodsource.ThemanymiddensindicatevastquantitiesofshellfishharvestedintheActivePassarea.

Inthelate1860'ssettlerswerearrivingtohomesteadonMayneIsland.By1871farmswerebeingestablishedbyJacobHeck,WilliamCollinsonandFredRobsonfollowedbyThomasBennettin1879andJohnDeaconintheearly1880's.In1893areporttotheDepartmentofAgriculturelistedMr.Heck'sfarmproductsasspringwheat,oats,peas,hay,potatoes,mangolds,carrots,turnipsandonions.Alsochickens,sellingeggsat30centsadozen.PigsandshorthorncattlewereraisedformeatandJerseycowsformilking.

ThefirstwharfatMinersBaywasbuiltin1878bytheProvincialGovernmentenablingfarmerstoshiptheirproducetomarketsbysteamer.Byearly1890'sthelargeorchardsplantedbysettlershadmatured.TheIslandsAgriculturalandFruitGrowersAssociationwasformedtoincludealltheGulfIslandsandfruitfromislandfarmssoldinthecitiesuntilOkanaganproducebecameprominentintheearly1900's.

RichardHallestablishedthefirstgreenhousesonMayneIslandin1910growingDaffodilsandTomatoes.In1921aweeklyshipmentintheSpringwasreportedtobe45,000Daffodilsandonetonof

7 http://www.gulfislandsguide.com/history/mayne-island-history/8 MayneIslandandtheOuterGulfIslands-AHistorybyMarieElliott;AGulfIslandsPatchworkbyGulfIslandsBranch,B.C.

HistoricalAssociation;andinformationfromlong-timeresident,JeanineDodds.


TomatoestotheVancouvermarket.Themild,sunnyclimateprovidedtheadvantageofshippingtomatoestwotothreeweeksearlierthanmainlandgrowers.

ThearrivalofJapanesefishermenandfarmers,inapproximately1900,broughtabustlingeconomytoMayneIsland.Alargefishingfleetandcannerywasestablishedaswellasapoultrycooperativeof50,000hens.Employedtoworkinthelargegreenhouses,bythe1930'stheJapanesefarmershadtakenoverthegreenhouseindustryandcreatedTheActivePassGrowersAssociation,producingTomatoesunderthe“IslandBrand”label.ThesuccessoftheJapanesefarmerscontinueduntilApril,1942,whenevacuationnoticewasissuedbythegovernment.Thegreenhouseindustrywascontinuedbylocalfarmersandremainedsuccessfuluntilhigherfreightrateswereintroducedin1950.

Thereasonablefreightratesfromapproximately1900to1950enabledfarmerstoshiptheircream,gardenproduce,poultry,beefandlambtomarketinbothVictoriaandVancouver.1950to1960wereyearsofunreliableandexpenseshippingservice,whichdecreasedtheprofitsoffarming.Manyfarmersearnedextraincomebuildingnewroads,construction,loggingandoperatingsawmills.Also,fillinggovernmentpositionsasPostmasterandJusticeofthePeace.

Asearlyas1891tourismtoMayneIslandbecamepopular.OnthelargeDeaconfarmonVillageBay,Mrs.DeaconcateredtovisitorsinherboardinghouseandMr.Collinsonletroomsinhislargehomeattheheadofthegovernmentwharf.LaterthishomebecametheGrandviewLodgeandthentheSpringwaterLodge,whichtodayremainsapopularrestaurant,pubandhotelforvisitorsandlocals.Mr.Hallandhisfamilyalsoopenedtheirhome,TheAnchorage,tovisitorsfrom1936to1952.Largevegetablegardensweregrownbymostoftheresidents,preservingforthewinterandselling,barteringortradingsurplus.

TheoriginalHeckFarm,todayistwolargefarms.Oneraisingbeefandhay,theotheranorganicfarmproducinggreenhousetomatoes,vegetables,fruit,eggsandpoultry,beef,porkandlambwhicharesoldlocallyatthefarm’ssmallgrocerystore.

AtGlenwoodFarm,theRobsonfamilyownedaherdofregisteredJerseycowsandproducedmilkforshipmenttotheSaltSpringCreameryduringtheyearsofWorldWarI.ThisfarmstayedintheRobsonfamilyforthreegenerationsandwiththepassingofGordonRobson,nowundernewownership,RedAngusbeefcattle,hayandapplesarebeinggrown.

Inthelast12to15years,theMayneIslandFarmersMarkethassteadilygrownintoaverypopularplaceeverySaturday,MaylongweekendtoThanksgiving.Visitorsandlocalresidentswillfindfreshproduce,artsandcrafts,food,coffeeandfreshlybakedsweets.

SaturnaIsland9

TheIslandisnamedaftertheSpanishschooner,theSaturnina,thatexploredtheSouthernGulfIslandsin1791.Thishillyislandwasgraduallysettled,asitiswellremovedfromthetrafficofActivePassandhaslimiteddepositsoffertilesoil.

Earlysettlersdevelopedorchardsandraisedsheep.Feraldescendantsofsomeoftheseearlysheeparestillpresent.ThefirstBritishsettlerarrivedin1869withPeterFrazierpurchasingcrownlandforone

9 http://www.gulfislandsguide.com/history/saturna-island-history/


poundanacre.Fouryearslater,alargehomesteadof1,400acresfacingonPlumperSoundwasdevelopedbyCharlesTrueworthy.

NorthandSouthPenderIslands10

ThePenders,astheyarecalledbylocals,wereactuallyoneislandjoinedbyanisthmus,whichwasdredgedin1902tomakeacanallargeenoughforthesteamship,theIroquois,totraversefromtheHopeBaydockonNorthPendertoSidney,afarsaferandshorterroutethanaroundSouthPender.In1955,theislandswerere-joined–thistimebyaone-lanebridge.

NamedafterDanielPender,masterofthePlumper,in1857,thePenderssawasurprisingamountofindustryforislandstheirsize.Atonetimeoranothertherewasathrivingbrickmakingenterprise,aherringsaltery,afertilizerplantandacedarshakeroofingcompany,aswellasloggingactivities.

TheearlyfoodsystembyFirstNationsinvolveddiggingforclams,harvestingcamasrootsafterburningoffthehillsides,fishingandharvestingcrabs.Therewasasmallernativeoyster,theOlympia,butinrecenttimesthePacificoysterwasharvested(introducedbyJapanesewhoseededthecoastareas).Berrieswerealsoharvested.Deerwerehunted.Clamgardenswereconstructedonthebeachesfortheproductionofclams(mariculture).TheCoastSalishcalledthePenders“S’tayusorS’Dayes”,meaning“ahappyplacetowindandsundrysalmon.”

In1868,CaptainGeorgeRichardsrenamedPenderIsland,PortBrowningandBedwellHarbour.In1871theColonyofBritishColumbiabecamethesixthprovinceofCanada.DavidHopeandNoahBuckleycametoPenderandeachpre-empted160acresonthenorthwestendoftheisland.OnceEuropeansarrived,theysettoworkclearingthelandforfarming.Aconditionofpre-emptionoftheCrownlandwastoclaimitforsettlementandagriculture.Theyselectedthevalleys,withrichersoil,flattertopographyandwater.Earlysettlersproducedavarietyofcropsaswellaskeptlivestockandpoultry.Asnakerailcedarfencewasconstructedacrosstheislandtocontrollivestock.

In1879DavidHopediedinahuntingaccident,hisbrotherRutherfordHopeandhissisterMrs.HelenAuchertlonieinheritedhisproperty.In1880theprovincesurveyedPenderIslandintoquartersections.LawrenceandHelenAuchterloniecametoPenderanddividedtheestatewithRutherfordHope.In1882theGrimmerbrothers,OliverandWashington,arrivedandpurchased840acresfromNoahBuckley.In1893AlbertMenziesarrived,workedforWashingtonGrimmerforthreeyearsandwaspaidincashand180acresofland.MenziesbegantofarmwhathasmorerecentlybeenknownasRoss-SmithFarm,currentlyownedbyDonandLindaWeinandnowre-namedValleyHomeFarm,theoriginalnameoftheMenziesfarm.In1899thePenderIslandFarmers’Institutewasformed,thefirstislandwideorganization.In1901thegovernmentwharveswerebuilt.In1900thesteamshipIroquoisbegantoservetheislands,transportinggoods,livestockandpeople.Aschoolhousewasbuiltin1902anditnowishometothecommunitythriftshoptheNu-To-You.

Agriculturalproductshadahigherrelativevalueinthoseearlydays,woolwasespeciallyvaluableconsideringwhatwoolisworthnow.TheGulfIslandswerewelllocatedbetweenVictoriaand

10 AGulfIslandsPatchwork,1961.GulfIslandBranch,BCHistoricalAssociation;AgriculturalHistoryofPenderIsland,2009.HeatherGrant,forthePenderIslandsFallFair(ondisplayatthePenderIslandCommunityHall);PenderIslandsMuseumtimelinewww.penderislandmuseum.org/content/pender-islands-time-line;PenderIslandsMuseumarchivelibrary,Roesland.


Vancouver,andwereabletoshipapples,produceandlivestocktothesemajorcenters.Beforethesteamerserviceeverythingwentbysmallboats.CattleshowingbeganwhenAHMenziesenteredanAyrshirebullintheVictoriaFairin1901.Poultrywerealsoexhibitedatthefair.Laterongrain,fruitsandvegetableswerealsoenteredatnumerousfairs.Mr.Menziesalwaysendeavouredtoimprovethequalityofhisstockandproduceandthedegreeofsuccessatthesefairswasusedasacriterioninmakingchangesinbrandorbreed.OneofthesechangeswastoswitchtopedigreedJerseycowswhichwereimportedfromoutsideCanada.AvitaldairyindustryflourishedonPenderIsland,withmanyhighqualityJerseycowsproducingmilkandbreedingstock.TheGulfIslandswereworldrenownedforthequalityandsizeoftheJerseyherd.AlbertMenziesofPenderIslandboughttwobredcowsfromRobertGrubbeofGaliano,whobroughtthefirstJerseysfromOregonin1904.MenziesimportedfromWisconsinthesonoftheChampionbullatthe1904StLouisWorld’sFair.WashingtonGrimmerofPenderIslandstartedhisJerseyherdin1906.HehadbloodlinesfromOntario,theUSandtheIsleofJersey.JohnBellhouseboughtGrubbe’sfarmwiththeherd,andnamedhiscowsforCharlesDickens’charactersinhisbooks.HisdaughterWinifredmarriedHerbertSpaldingofSouthPender,andtheyalsohadaJerseyherd.Injustafewyears,20%oftheBCJerseyherdwasintheGulfIslands.Feedwashome-grown,withgrains,foragecropsandpasture.ButterwasshippedtoVictoriaandVancouver.MilkalsowenttotheSaltSpringCreamery.Manyproductionrecordswereset.CowswentbyboattobeexhibitedinthePacificNationalExhibition,winningmanyawards.

In1958electricitycametoPenderIsland.In1961BCFerrieswasestablished,andbegantoserveVancouverIsland.In1965BCFerriesbuiltadockatOtterBay,whichallowedfortheincreaseddevelopmentoftheisland,especiallyinGulfGarden(nowMagiclake)Estates.

In1973theAgriculturalLandReserve,aprovincialzoneforfarming,wasestablishedtoprotectfarmlandduetotherapiddevelopmentofthelimitedandprimeBCfarmland,especiallyintheFraserValley.In1974theIslandsTrustwasestablishedtopreserveandprotecttheGulfIslandsinthewaketothedevelopmentofMagicLakeEstatesonNorthPenderIslandinthemid1960’s,thelargesthousingdevelopmentinCanadaatthattime.

PrevostIsland

PrevostIslandislocatedeastofGangesHarbourandmidwaybetweenthesoutheasternextremityofSaltSpringIslandandthesouthendofGalianoIsland.The685haislandwasnamedforJamesCharlesPrevost,BritishCommissionerfortheSanJuanIslandboundarydisputeof1859-1870andcaptainoftheHMSSatellite.ItispartoftheSaltSpringIslandLocalTrustArea.

DigbydeBurgh,anIrishmanfromCountyLimerick,whousedittoraisesheep,goatsandcattle,boughtmostoftheislandasafarminthe1920s.Hisdescendantsstillownmuchoftheisland,whichisstillprimarilyasheepandcattlefarm.Afewsmallerprivatehomeshavebeenbuiltonthenorthwestsideoftheisland.WiththeestablishmentoftheGulfIslandsNationalParkin2003twoareasoftheislandhavebeenacquiredandincludedintheReservearea.


Sidney,James,MoresbyandtheAssociatedIslands.

Thereareabout40smallerislandsthatlieintheareasouthofthePenderIslands.MostofthesearepartoftheNorthPenderLocalTrustArea–anarea,referredtoastheAssociatedIslandsthathasitsownOfficialCommunityPlanandLandUseBylaw,administeredbytheNorthPenderLocalTrustCommittee.Moresby,Sidney,James,Coal,BrethourandKnappIslandscurrentlyhaveagriculturalactivity,inadditiontolandthatiszonedforagriculturaluse.

Past.

TheseislandsshareasimilarFirstNationspastwiththeotherislandsofthearchipelago.Theytoowere“discovered”byearlyEuropeanexplorersinthelate1700s.However,similartoPrevosttheyweregenerallypurchasedandsettledbyindividualfamiliesorearlycorporations.Asaresult,theyneverexperiencedthesamesettlementandpopulationspressuresexperiencedbythelargerGulfIslands.Mostoftheseearlysettlementsinvolvedagriculturalactivitiestosupplytheirownneeds.AnyproductionbeyondthiswassoldtomarketsonSouthernVancouverIslandandtheLowerMainland.

MoresbyIslandwasfirstsettledin1863.Intheearly1900sthe563haislandwasapparentlyathrivingagriculturaloperationwithextensiveappleorchardsandvegetablegardensthatsuppliedVancouverandVictoriagrocers.Overitsrecenthistorytheislandhasbeenextensivelyloggedbuttodayispredominantlytreedwithmostofitsagriculturaloperationsrestrictedtothewesternsideoftheisland.Theislandissubdividedinto17titlesbutremainsundertheownershipofonefamily,whichpurchasedtheislandin1990.

JamesIslandwasownedbyagroupofwealthyVictoriansinthelate1800s–agroupthatincludedthepremierofBC.Thisgroupestablishedtheislandasaprivatehuntingreserveandimportedfallowdeer(fromBritain),mountainsheep,pheasants,partridge,grouseandquail.ThedeereventuallycrossedtonearbySidneyIsland.Priortoitssalein1913,toCanadianIndustriesLimited(CIL)itboastedthebestappleorchardinBC.Thefirstownersalsoraisedandtrainedracehorsesalongwithdogs.Thecompanypurchasedtheislandandestablishedanexplosiveplantthereaswellasavillageforworkersandtheirfamilies.Atitspeak,350peoplelivedontheisland.Theplantwasclosedin1978.In1994,anAmericanbusinessmanpurchasedtheislandandbeganadevelopmentthatincludedextensiveanenvironmentalrestorationoftheCILworks,theestablishmentofagulfcourse,guestcottagesandasmallorganicproduceoperation.

SidneyIslandwassubdividedandmarketedbytheHudson’sBayCompanyin1859.In1902itwassoldtoMr.CourtneywhoestablishedtheSidneyIslandBrickandTileCompanyin1906.BricksmanufacturedherefromclaydepositswereusedintheconstructionofanumberofnotableBCbuildingsincludingtheEmpressHotel.TheCompanywentbankruptin1925.In1915,2/3softheislandwassoldtoanothersyndicateofwealthyVictorianswhouseditasaprivatehuntingreserve.Overtimecontrolwasgainedbyoneindividualwhoraisedsheepbutalsoimportedpheasants,peacocks,wildturkeys,andblacktaildeer.Bythistimefallowdeerhadbecomeestablished.In1981thisholdingwassoldtoaforestrycompanythatestablishedatreefarm.BCParksacquiredtheremainingnorthernportionoftheisland(approximatelyonethirdoftheisland)thesameyear.In2003,theparkareabecamepartoftheGulfIslandsNationalParkReserve.


FoodandAgricultureSituationToday

AprofileofagricultureintheSouthernGulfIslands(SGI)regionhasbeendevelopedtoprovideasnapshotofagriculturalproductionintheregionandexamineissuessuchasfarmprofitability,diversityofagriculturalcommoditiesandtheareaoflandunderproduction.

The area of focus includes the 5major Southern Gulf Islands (Mayne, Galiano, North Pender, SouthPender,Saturna)andthesmallerislands(Parker,Prevost,Samuel,Curlew,Tumbo,James,Moresby,andPiers).

StatisticsCanadaidentifiestheSouthernGulfIslandsbycombiningthemintotheCensusAgriculturalRegion1–VancouverIsland-CoastandfurtherintoCensusDivision17-Capital.

ThecensusdivisionisfurtherbrokendownintosubsequentCensusConsolidatedSubdivisions(CCS)asfollows: 17–Capital–AllAreas;5–NorthSaanich;21–Saanich;27–CapitalF(SaltSpringIsland);29–CapitalG(SouthernGulfIslands,excludingSaltSpringIsland);34–Victoria;and56–CapitalH(Part2)(Fig.3).

The latestavailabledata fromStatisticsCanadawas the2011CensusofAgriculture.The focusof thisagriculturalprofile isondatagatheredbetween2006and2011,whichwastheonlydataavailablefortheSGI region.Data frompreviousyearswasonlyavailable for theentireCapitalRegionandwasnotbroken down further into smaller geographic regions. Some of the tables contain an ‘x’ to indicatedisclosurecontrol.StatisticsCanadaisprohibitedfromreleasingdata,whichcoulddivulgeinformation

Figure2.TheSouthernGulfIslands.


relatingtoanyidentifiableperson,businessororganizationwithoutconsent.Theuseofthe‘x’isappliedtoeliminatethepotentialforidentification.11

Figure3.StatisticsCanada2011Censusconsolidatedsubdivisions.

Concurrent to the development of this Food and Agriculture Strategy, the BCMinistry of Agriculture(AGRI)conductedanAgriculturalLandUse Inventory(ALUI) fortheregion.TheALUIprovidesdetailedparcel-by-parcel information about land cover, land use, and irrigation practiceswhen observed. TheALUIresultscanserveasanadditional“snapshot”ofagricultureintheregionandencompassed711lots(properties)over6,891hectares(ha).TheALUIconsideredland“Farmed”if:

• Cultivated field crops: vegetation under cultivation for harvest or pasture including landtemporarilysetasidefromfarmingandperennialcropsthatwerenotharvestedorgrazedinthecurrentgrowingseason

• Farm infrastructure: built structures associated with farming such as barns, stables, corrals,ridingrings,andtheirassociatedyards

11 Note:ThisprofilewasdevelopedusinginformationfromtheAgriculturalCensusdataforyears2006and2011.ThisinformationisexpectedtobeindicativeoftheactualfarmingpracticesintheSGI,howeveritisnotexpectedtobeexact.StatisticsCanadanotesthattherehavebeensignificantrefinementsinthegeographicassignmentofagriculturaloperationsandchangesinCensusConsolidatedSubdivisionboundariesbetween2011and2006makingCensusConsolidatedSubdivisionsforthesetwocensusespossiblynotcomparable.


• Greenhouses: permanent enclosed glass or poly structures with or without climate controlfacilitiesforgrowingplantsandvegetationundercontrolledenvironments

• Cropbarns:permanentenclosedstructureswithnon-translucentwallsforgrowingcropssuchasmushroomsorbeansprouts

SincetheALUIislimitedbywhatcanbedeterminedusingawindshieldsurveyandorthophotos(aerialphotos), somediscrepancies are to be expected. Additionally, theALUI used a geographic range thatdiffered from theCensusConsolidated Subdivision. TheALUI datahas been included in the summarybelow.

AgriculturalLandBase

ThetotalareaactivelyfarmedintheSouthernGulfIsland(SGI)regiontakesup94.7%ofthetotalareaoftheALRintheSGI.Thetotallandincrops,however,isonly20.9%oftheALR.

Table1.AgriculturallandbaseintheSouthernGulfIslands.StatisticsCanada.

Area(ha)

Jurisdictionalarea 54,431

TotalALRintheCRD 16,399

TotalALRintheSGI 2,363*

Totalareaoffarms 2,238

Landincrops 495

Tameorseededpasture 233

Naturallandforpasture 366

Woodlandsandwetlands 1,025

Allotherland 119

*Includes17haIR

StatisticsCanada,usingtheCensusofAgriculture,attemptstodevelopanaccuratepictureofagricultureinCanada.IntheirCensusdataanagriculturaloperationisdefinedasafarm,ranchorotheroperationthatproducesagriculturalproductsintendedforsale.Thereisnorecommendedscaleoffarmsuggestedforreportingpurposesand“hobbyfarms”orverysmalloperationscanbeincludedintheCensus.ThenumberoffarmsintheSGIregiondecreasedfrom89to82,accordingtoStatisticsCanadadata.


Figure4.NumberoffarmsintheSouthernGulfIslands.StatisticsCanada.

TheAgriculturalLandUseInventoryencompassed711parcelswithacombinedareaof6,891ha,or36%oftheSouthGulfIslandstotallandarea.Includedareallparcels:

• CompletelyorpartiallywithintheAgriculturalLandReserve• ClassifiedbyBCAssessmentashaving“Farm”statusforpropertytaxassessment• Withanactivewaterlicenceforfarmingorirrigationpurposes• Zonedbylocalgovernmentbylawstopermitagricultureandexhibitingsignsofagricultureon

aerialphotographyandgreaterthan1acre(approximately0.4ha)

TheamountofALRlandincludedintheALUIwas2,294halocatedon430parcels.Theremaining69haofALRwasexcludedfromtheinventoryasitwasoutsideparcels,inparcels<500sqmorinIndianreserves(17ha).

Thenumberofparcelsdeterminedas“UsedforFarming”intheALUIwas110or15%ofthetotalparcelssurveyed.Theremainingparcelswere“NotUsedforFarming”.

Landuse,asappliedintheALUI,focusessolelyonhumanuseanddescribestheeconomicfunctionortypeofestablishmentusingthatparcelofland.ThemajorlandusesintheSGIregionarebrokendowninTable2fortheareainventoriedduringtheALUIonly.

Propertiescurrently“Usedforfarming”,orwithsomeagriculturepresent,areconsideredavailableforfarmingregardlessofanyexistingnon-farmuse.Also,propertiesthathaveresidentsareconsideredcompatiblewithagricultureandavailableforfarmingsincetheexistinglandusecanbemaintained.Propertiesconsideredunavailableforfarminghaveanestablishednon-farmusethatisincompatiblewithagriculture.Landavailableforfarmingisalsoassessedforitsfarmingpotentialbasedonphysicalandenvironmentalcharacteristics.Onlyareasinnaturalandsemi-naturalvegetation,areasinmanagedvegetation(managedforlandscaping,dustorsoilcontrol),andnon-builtorbareareasareconsideredtohavepotentialforfarming.Areascoveredwithbuiltstructures,steepslopesorrockysoilsandareaswithoperationalconstraintssuchasaverysmallsize,areconsiderednottohavepotentialforfarming.Table3showsthebreakdownoflandavailabilityinhectaresintheareainventoriedfortheALUI.

89

82

78

80

82

84

86

88

90

2006 2011

NumberofFarms


Table2.LandUseintheSouthernGulfIslandsinhectaresintheALUIinventoryarea.ALUI.

IntheALR OutsidetheALR TotalArea

UsedforFarmingOnly: 277 324 601

UsedforFarming:

Residential 640 472 1,111

Transportation 9 2 11

Gravelextraction 2 9 12

NotUsedforFarming:

Residential 691 1,740 2,431

Transportation 265 281 545

Recreation 89 88 177

Commercial/service 32 1 33

Protectedarea/park 31 434 465

Dumpsanddeposits 8 8 16

Institutional/community 7 15 22

Utilities 3 62 65

Gravelextraction 1 6 7

Indianreserves 17 117 133


Table3.LandavailableandwithpotentialforfarmingintheSouthernGulfIslandsALUIinventoryarea,AALUI.

IntheALR OutsidetheALR Total

Activelyfarmed 551 129 680

Supportingfarming 12 8 20

Unavailableforfarming 143 586 729

Limitedpotentialforfarming 1011 2775 3786

Availablewithpotential 576 810 1,386

ThemajorityofthefarmsidentifiedbyStatisticsCanadawerebetween10and69acresinsizewithonly19farmsgreaterthan70acresin2011(Table4).

Table4.AcreageoffarmsintheSouthernGulfIslands.StatisticsCanada.

2006 2011 TotalCRD

TotalFarms: 89 82 1,093

Under10acres 21 18 580

10-69acres 49 45 404

70-129acres 6 10 58

130-179acres 7 3 16

180-239acres 3 2 11

240-399acres 0 2 13

400-559acres 0 1 7

560-759acres 1 0 0

760-1,119acres 0 0 2

1,120-1,599acres 1 1 2

1,600-2,239acres 1 0 0

2,240acresandover 0 0 0


TheaveragefarmsizeintheSGIregiondecreasedfrom32.7hain2006to27.3hain2011.Thisindicatesthatthere isareductionof farmingactivityonthe islands,andthat farmsaredecreasingtheiroverallproduction.

Figure5.AveragefarmsizeontheSouthernGulfIslandsinhectares.StatisticsCanada.

Landtenurecanbeanindicationoffarmstability.Thoseleasinglandaremoreinstablethanthosewhoown their land with regard to investments in infrastructure. In the SGI region, 92% of the land wasowned in2011,whileonly8%of the land is rentedor leased fromothers.Noneof the land is leasedfromgovernmentsorcrop-sharedfromothers.Thisrepresentsaveryhighleveloffarmstabilityinlandtenure.

Table5.FarmTenureintheSGIRegioninAcres.StatisticsCanada.

2006 % 2011 %

Totalareaoffarms 7,185 100% 5,531 100%

Totalareaowned 6,800 95% 5,134 92%

Totalarearentedorleasedfromothers 385 5% 444 8%

32.7

27.3

24.0

25.0

26.0

27.0

28.0

29.0

30.0

31.0

32.0

33.0

34.0

2006 2011

Hectares

AverageFarmSize


AgriculturalActivities

Thetotalareaofcropproductiondecreasedfrom2006to2011from2,908hato2,238ha.Theareainnatural pasturedecreased from2006 to2011,while thearea in crops,managedpasture,woodlands,wetlandsandChristmastreesincreasedfrom1,585hato1,753ha.

Table6.AreaofCropsinHectaresintheSGIRegion.StatisticsCanada.

AreaofCrops(ha) 2006 % 2011 % 2011CRD

%

Totalarea 2,908 100% 2,238 100% 13,606 100%

Arealandincrops 365 13% 495 22% 4,752 35%

Summerfallow 0 0% 0 0% 37 0%

Pasture(managed) 166 6% 233 10% 1,647 12%

Pasture(natural/unmanaged) 1,133 39% 366 16% 2,560 18%

Woodlands,wetlands,Christmastrees 1,054 36% 1,025 46% 2,939 22%

Allotherland 190 7% 119 5% 1,671 12%

Theterm“landcover”isusedintheALUItodescribethebiophysicalmaterialatthesurfaceoftheearthandisdistinctfromlanduse,whichdescribeshowpeopleutilizetheland.Table7showsthebreakdownoflandcoverinventoriedduringtheALUIinhectares.ThecultivatedfieldcropsidentifiedduringtheALUIweremuchhigherthantheareaoflandincropsrecordedbyStatisticsCanada’sCensusofAgriculture.

Table7.LandCoverintheSouthernGulfIslandsinHectares.ALUI.


Cultivatedfieldcrops 541 122 663

Farminfrastructure 10 7 17

Greenhouses <1 <1 1

Residential 16 32 48

Settlement 4 6 10

Naturalandsemi-natural 1,394 3,834 5,227


Farmtypechangedsomewhatfrom2006to2011.Cattle;poultryandegg;otheranimalproduction;nutand tree; and greenhouse, nursery and floriculture operations all decreased, while sheep and goat;vegetableandmelon;andothercropproductionincreased.

Figure6.NumberoffarmsintheSouthernGulfIslandsbyindustrygroup.StatisticsCanada.

Total crop enterprises decreased from 2006 to 2011, but the number of farms producing field cropsincreasedoverthattime,asdidvegetablefarms.Thenumberoffarmsproducingfruit,berries,nutsandnurserycropsdecreasedfrom2006to2011,whichcouldindicateanareaforpotentialgrowth.

Table8.Totalcropenterprisesbynumberoffarmsandhectares.StatisticsCanada.

2006 2006 2011 2011

Farms Hectares Farms Hectares

FieldCrops 35 251 43 368

Fruits,Berries&Nuts 40 60 37 62

Vegetables 29 9 32 25

8

0

7

8

14

0

11

20

11

10

4

0

3

10

8

0

14

14

9

20

0 5 10 15 20 25

Casleranching

Hogandpigfarming

Poultryandegg

Sheepandgoat

Otheranimalproducton

Grainandoilseed

Vegetableandmelon

Fruitandnuttree

Greenhouse,nurseryandfloriculture

Othercrop

FarmTypebyIndustryGroup

2006 2011


Nursery 5 2 4 6

Thenumberoffarmsproducingfruits,berriesandnutsdecreasedfrom2006to2011,butthenumberofhectaresofproductionincreasedfrom2006to2011,particularlyforapplesandpears.

Table9.Numberofhectaresintreefruitproduction.StatisticsCanada.

2006 2011

Apples 11 24

Pears 1 2

Plumsandprunes 2 2

Sweetcherries 0 x

Sourcherries x 0

Peaches x x

Apricots 0 0

Thenumberofhectaresofberrycropsalsoincreasedfrom2006to20111inblueberries,butdecreasedfor all other berry crop types. This could provide an area for growth in the region, but a fullmarketanalysiswouldneedtobecompletedtodetermineifthereisdesireforthesecrops.

Table10.Berryproductioninhectares.StatisticsCanada.

2006 2011

Strawberries 1 0

Raspberries 2 1

Blueberries 3 4

Cranberries 0 0

Grapes 37 25

Saskatoons 0 0

Totalgreenhouseproductionincreasedfrom2006to2011by1,439m2,whichisatotalof37%.Thedatahas been suppressed for greenhouse flowers and other greenhouse products, but the increase ingreenhousevegetableproductionwas1,193m2,whichwasthemajorgrowtharea.


Table11.Greenhouseproductionfrom2006to2011.StatisticsCanada.

2006 2011

Totalgreenhouseunderglass(m2) 2,479 3,915

Totalareaofgreenhouseinuse(m2) 2,479 3,905

Greenhouseflowers(m2) x x

Greenhousevegetables(m2) 780 1,973

Othergreenhouseproducts(m2) x x

ThebreakdownoffieldcropsidentifiedduringtheALUIcanbefoundinTable12.

Table12.FieldcropsintheSouthernGulfIslandsinhectares.ALUI.


Forageandpasture 533 106 639

Treefruits 11 15 26

Grapes 22 2 24

Vegetables 10 12 22

Croptransition 1 <1 2

Berries <1 1 2

Specialty 1 <1 2

Nuttrees 1 <1 1

Floriculture <1 <1 <1

Nursery - <1 <1

581 138 719

Livestockproductionincreasedfrom2006to2011inpoultryandbeeproduction,butdecreasedforallother livestocktypes.Therecouldbegrowthpotentialhere,but thereareanumberofchallenges forlivestock production in remote communities such as: cost of inputs, transportation, slaughter facility


accessandmore.Itisencouragingtonotethatthenumberofbeecolonieshasincreasedsince2006,asithasdecreasedinmostotherBCcommunities.

Table13.Livestockenterprisesfrom2006to2011.StatisticsCanada.

2006 2006 2011 2011

Farms No.ofAnimals

Farms No.ofAnimals

Poultry 34 2,596 35 3,707

CattleandCalves 16 454 16 307

Pigs 2 x 1 X

SheepandLambs 30 1,447 22 1,385

HorsesandPonies 14 65 12 50

Goats 4 89 5 35

DeerandElk 1 x 1 X

LlamasandAlpacas 2 x 4 20

BeeColonies 4 13 9 45

ThenumberoffarmswithlivestockdifferedtosomedegreeintheALUIdatafromtheStatisticsCanadadata,butnotbyavastamount.Table14indicatesthebreakdownoffarmswithlivestockatthehomesiteandthescaleofagriculturalproduction.

Table14.Numberoflivestockoperationsandscale.ALUI

VerySmall Small Medium Large Total

Beef 3 12 1 - 16

Poultry 36 - - - 36

Swine 2 2 - - 4

Sheep/goat 18 19 1 - 38

Llama/alpaca 3 3 - - 6

Specialty 1 - - - 1


Equine 10 10 - - 20

Total 73 46 2 - 121

AccordingtotheALUIdata,sheepandgoatactivitiesarethemostcommontypeoflivestockactivitywithpoultryasthesecondmostcommon.ThisisconsistentwiththeStatisticsCanadadata.Therewerealso5farmswithsmallapiariesand2farmswithmediumscaleapiaries.

FarmPractices

Thedata reportedby Statistics Canada indicates that farms in the SGI region tend touse sustainableproductionpractices.Therewasaveryslightincreaseinirrigatedhectaresandherbicideusefrom2006to 2011, but the amount of farmland treatedwith pesticides is less than 5%. Liquidmanurewas notreportedtobeusedonanyfarmsintheSGIregion.

Table15.Farmpracticesinhectaresfrom2006to2011.StatisticsCanada.

2006 % 2011 %

Totalarea 2,908 100% 2,238 100%

Irrigated 66 2% 65 3%

Commercialfertilizer 153 5% 81 4%

Herbicides 7 0.2% 11 0.4%

Insecticides x -- X --

Fungicides x -- 30 1%

Lime 12 0.4% 56 3%

Manure-liquidspreader(onsurface) 0 0% 0 0

Manure-liquidspreader(injected) 0 0% 0 0

TheALUIfoundatotalof75hairrigatedcomparedto65harecordedintheStatisticsCanadadata.Surfaceirrigationwaslessthan1ha,sprinklerirrigationwas63haand12hawastrickleirrigation.


Food-relatedActivities12

GalianoIsland

GalianoFoodProgram13

TheGalianoFoodProgram“strivestoincreaseGalianoIsland’sfoodsecuritythroughcommunity-buildingactivitiesandskillssharing”.TheFoodProgramisanon-profitorganizationthatreliesonvolunteersupportersandthreepart-timecoordinators.Mostoftheactivitiesarefree,orbydonation,anddecisionsaremadeinconsultationwiththecommunity.TheFoodProgramhasinitiatedanumberofprojectsincluding:theCommunityKitchenattheGalianoCommunityHall;gleaningteams;aFarmers’Institute;mealsprogram;IslandsFoodSecurityConference;Seniors’SoupProgram;Seniors’SoupGarden;fruittreemapping;andotherevents,workshops,foodgrowinginitiatives,andeducationalopportunities.

GalianoSaturdayMarket14

TheGalianoMarketSocietyisproudtohosttheSaturdayMarketfrom10:00amto2:00pmeveryweekatLion’sParkfromMaytoOctober.Themarketfeaturesfreshhome-grownproduce,home-bakedgoods,home-madeandhand-madejewelry,clothingandcraftsfromGaliano.

GalianoBlackberryFestival

EveryyearontheSaturdayoftheThanksgivingweekend,theGalianoClubrunstheBlackberryFestival.Volunteersspendtheweekleadingupthefestivalmakingpastryforpiesandthepiesthemselves.Atthefestivalonemaypurchasethesewholepieswhicharefreshorfrozen.Homemadesoupsandbreadareservedalongwiththepies,icecream,teaandcoffee.OutsidetheHallateachBlackberryFestivalisthefinalFarmers’Marketoftheseason.

GalianoWineandBeerFestival15

HeldeachyearinAugust,theGalianoWineandBeerFestivalactsasafundraiserfortheGalianoHealthCareSociety.In2014,thiseventattractedover25wineandbeervendorsofferingavarietyoftastings.Theeventisinformalandticketsincludeunlimitedtastings,awineglass,fresh-madefingerfood,andentertainment.Galianoartistsarealsoonsiteexhibitingandsellingtheiroriginalwork.

MayneIsland

FoodandAgricultureEvents

TheMayneIslandConservancy,GardenClubandAgriculturalSocietyhavejointlysponsoreddemonstrationsandworkshopssuchaspreservingfood,growingvegetables,growingandpropagatingnativeplants.SeedySaturdayofferssavedseeds,cuttings,plantsandtubers,speakers,demonstrations,adviceandaMasonBeeexhibit.

12 Note:Thisisanincompletelist.13 http://galianofoodprogram.ca/14 https://www.facebook.com/GalianoSaturdayMarket15 http://galianowinefestival.com/


MayneIslandCommunityGarden

LocatednexttotheMayneIslandCommunityCentre,afullyfenced,sunnyandproductivegardenofraisedplots,rentedbyenthusiasticgardeners.AnOrchard,Asparaguspatch,Grapearbour,RaspberriesandCurrantsalsogrowwithinthefence.RainwateriscollectedfromtheCommunityCentreroofforallwateringneeds.

MayneIslandFallFair

TheMayneIslandFallFairtakesplacethethirdSaturdayinAugust.Itis“theeventoftheyear,”attractingtouristsandfamiliestobeentertainedandtoparticipate.TheMayneIslandAgriculturalSocietymembersandcommunityvolunteersco-ordinatetheFairandparade.InsidetheHall,exhibitsoffruit,vegetables,flowersandpreservesshowcasetheexcellentqualityofproducegrownbylocalfarmersandgardeners.Thedisplaysofknitting,quilting,artwork,photographyandbakinggiveaglimpseofthetalentswithinthecommunity.TheFallFairisaveryimportantfactorinthelocaleconomy,bringingbusinesstorestaurants,resorts,BandB's,touroperators,galleriesandretailstores.

MayneIslandFarmGateStore16

TheMayneIslandFarmGateStoreisoperatedbyDonandShantiofDeaconValeFarm.ThestoreoffersavarietyoffoodstaplesaswellaspreparedfoodsandpreservesfromDeaconVale.ThestorepurchasesfromotherlocalfarmsonMayneIslandwhenpossible,aswellassuppliersfromVancouverIslandtosupplementtheirownfarmproduceandmeat.

MayneIslandFarmers’Market

TheMayneIslandFarmers'MarketisheldonthegroundsoftheAgriculturalHall,everySaturdayfrom10a.m.to1p.m.,VictoriaDayweekendtoThanksgivingweekend.Productsincludeinlocallygrown,inseasonfruitandvegetables,jam,jelly,plantsandflowersaswellasartsandcrafts,woodwork,handcraftedjewelry,leathergoods,handknittingandfelthats,bakedgoods,coffeeandpreparedfood.

NorthandSouthPenderIslands

ThePenderhavethreegrocerystores-TruValue,SouthridgeFarmsCountryStore,ThePenderStore.AllarelocatedonNorthPender.Allsellfresh,bulk,packagedandfrozenfood.TruValuecollectsdonationsforthefoodbankandhasa1%communityboard.Allthreestoreswillcarrylocalfarmproductthrougharrangementwithstoremanagement.Therearenumerousroadsidestands,whichsellproduce,eggs,nuts.Manyfoodproducershaveroadsidestandswith“honourboxes.”Anumberoffarmsofferfarmgatesales,sellingmeat,eggs,produce,andnuts.

HeartwoodFolkSchool17

Providesclassesandeducationonsustainabilityinitiatives

16 http://www.farmgatestore.com/17 http://www.heartwoodfolkschool.ca


PenderIslandsFarmers’Market18

ThePenderIslandsFarmers’MarketrunsfromEastertoThanksgiving,atthePenderIslandsRecreationandAgriculturalHall,onSaturdaysfrom9:30amto1:00pm.ThemarketissponsoredbythePenderIslandFarmers’Institute.AsmallerwintermarketisrunattheHallfromNovemberuntiltheendofMarch.

PenderIslandFarmers’Institute19

ThePenderIslandsFarmers'Instituteprovidesinformationandeducationonagriculture,horticultureandrurallife.ItorganizesthePenderIslandFallFairandsponsorstheFarmers'Market.

PenderIslandsFallFair20

ThePenderIslandsFallFairissponsoredandcoordinatedbythePenderIslandsFarmers’Institute,volunteersandlocaldonations;andispartiallysupportedbygrantsfromtheBCAssociationofAgriculturalFairsandExhibitions.ProceedsfromtheFairgotowardimprovementstotheFair,totheCommunityandAgriculturalHallandgrounds,andtothepromotionandencouragementofagricultureonthePenderIslands.

PenderIslandFarmlandAcquisitionGroup21

ThePenderIslandCommunityFarmlandAcquisitionProjectSocietywasformedin2009forthepurposeofacquiringandstewardingfarmlandonPenderIslandtobeheldinperpetuityforthebenefitofthecommunity.Theyhaveavisionofafarmlandtrustthatsupportssustainableagriculture,producinglocalhealthyfoodandincreasingfoodself-sufficiencyonPenderIslandwhilecombiningecologicalconservation,educationandcommunity.Thegroupownsanapplepressandcanarrangetoharvestapplesforlandowners,withoneshareforthelandowner,onesharetotheFoodBankandonesharetobedividedamongsttheparticipants.

PenderIslandFoodBank

Thefoodbankwasestablishedaround2000,andoperatesfromtheSt.Peter’sAnglicanChurch.ItoperatesweeklyandisavailableforanyPenderIslandsresidentinneed.Frozenmeat,eggsanddairyproducts,freshvegetablesandcannedandpackagedgoodsareavailable.Petfoodsandnecessarysundries.Localgrocerystores,farmers,gardenerscontributefooddirectly.TheTruValue1%Boardcontributesfinanciallytothepurchaseofhealthyfood.

PenderIslandSchool

Hasalearninggardenwithnuttrees.

18 http://pifi.ca/pages/frmrsmkt.html19 http://pifi.ca20 http://pifi.ca/pages/fallfair.html21 http://penderislandweb.com/farm/


SaturnaIsland

CanadaDayLamBarbque

TheLambBarbequeanannualcelebrationofCanadaDay,centeredaroundatraditionallypreparedbarbequedlambmeal,withanold-fashionedcountryfairflavour.TheSaturnaIslandcommunityhashostedtheBarbequeonanannualbasissince1950whenitbeganasaschoolpicnicontheCampbell’sfarmatSaturnaBeachincelebrationofourJuly1nationalholiday.ThebarbequeisnowheldonthegroundsofHunterField,WinterCove,GulfIslandsNationalParkReserve.ItistheprincipalfundraisingactivityoftheSaturnaIslandCommunityClub.Activitiesandservicessuchashealthcare,ambulance,library,asinginggroup,groundwaterprotection,children’sChristmasparty,school-endfestivitiesandawardsarefundedbytheCommunityClub.

SaturnaIslandFarmersMarket

TheSaturnaIslandFarmersMarketrunseverySaturdayattheCommunityHallfromMayuntilSeptember.

31Square–SaturnaEats22

31SquarebeganonSaturnaIslandin2007asacommunityinformationexchangewithhopesofinspiringinterestandactivityinlocalfood,andsustainingthenaturalenvironment.Thecoregroupofenthusiasticgardeners,andhuntersandgatherersoflocalfreshfoodsinitiatedanumberoflocalfoodprograms,hostedlocaldinnersandestablishedalistservandwebsitetoencourageandconnectthefoodandagriculturecommunity.Whileinterestandparticipationinthegrouphasdiminishedinrecentyearstodaythereismoreinterestinandavailabilityoflocalfoodontheisland.

22 http://www.31square.com


FarmSizeandCharacteristicsofFarmers

Thepopulationofthe5majorSouthernGulfIslands(Galiano,Mayne,NorthPender,SouthPenderandSaturna) is approximately 4,929. The number of farmers in the region in 2011 was 130, which isapproximately 2.6% of the population. The average age of operatorswas 59.5 years,which is higherthantheBCaverageof55.7yearsandtheCRDaverageof57.4.FarmandoperatordataisnotavailablefortheSGIregionforcensusdataearlierthan2006.

Table16.Farmoperatorprofilefor2011.StatisticsCanada.

SGI CRD

Population 4,929 359,991

Numberoffarms 82 1,093

Numberofoperators 130 1,660

Averageageofoperators 59.5 57.4

Thenumberoffarmersdecreasedfrom2006to2011from135to130.Thisisconsistentwiththedecreaseinfarmoperationsoverthesametimeperiod.

Figure7.NumberoffarmersintheSouthernGulfIslands.StatisticsCanada.

Thenumberofmaleoperatorsdecreasedslightlyfrom2006to2011.Thenumberoffarmers livingonthefarmalsodecreasedfrom93%in2006to85%in2011.Additionally,moreoperatorswereonfarmswithtwoormoreoperatorsin2011thanin2006.

135

130

126

128

130

132

134

136

2006 2011

NumberofFarmers


Table17.Farmoperatorsbygenderandnumberofoperatorsonfarm.StatisticsCanada.

2006 % 2011 % 2011(CRD)

%

Totaloperators 135 100% 130 100% 1,660 100%

Male 70 52% 65 50% 965 58%

Female 65 48% 60 46% 700 42%

Liveonthefarm 125 93% 110 85% 1,500 90%

Operatorsonfarmswithoneoperator

50 37% 35 27% 555 33%

Operatorsonfarmswithtwoormoreoperators

85 63% 100 77% 1,110 67%

Theageofoperatorsincreasedfrom2006to2011,asdidthenumberofoperatorsinthe55yearsandovercategory.Thenumberoffarmersundertheageof35decreased,asdidthenumberofoperatorsbetweentheagesof35and54.Theageoffarmoperatorsisconsistentwithfewyoungfarmerschoosingfarmingasacareer.

Figure8.Ageofoperatorsfrom2006to2011.StatisticsCanada.

10

50

80

5

35

95

0102030405060708090100

Under35 35-54 55andover

AgeofOperator(Years)

2006 2011


Figure9.Averageageofoperators.StatisticsCanada.

Table18.AverageageofoperatorsinCanada.StatisticsCanada2011.

SouthernGulf

Islands

CRD LowerMainland

BritishColumbia

Canada

Averageageofallfarmoperators 59.5 57.4 54.2 55.7 54

Lessthan4%ofthefarmersintheSGIregionareundertheageof35,whichislowerthantheoverallpercentageinBC,theLowerMainland,andCanada,butslightlyhigherthanintheCRD.Thenumberofoperatorsovertheageof55hasincreasedintheregiontonearly73%,whichishigherthantheBCaverage(54%)andtheaverageintheCRD.

Table19.AgedistributionoffarmoperatorsinCanada.StatisticsCanada2011.

SouthernGulfIslands

CRD LowerMainland

BC Canada

Under35years 5(4%) 55(3%) 630(7%) 1620(5%) 24120(8%)

35to54years 35(27%) 580(35%) 3840(44%) 12110(40%) 127895(44%)

55yearsandover 95(73%) 1030(62%) 4340(49%) 16195(54%) 141920(48%)

Totalnumberofoperators 130(100%) 1660(100%) 8800(100%) 29925(100%) 293925(100%)

Figure 10 indicates the number of hours operators spent working on the farm. In all categories, thenumberofoperatorsworking ineachcategorydecreased from2006 to2011.Thiscould indicate thatfeweroperatorsareworkingonthefarmandarespendingmoretimeworkingoffthefarm.

57.1

59.5

55.556.056.557.057.558.058.559.059.560.0

2006 2011

AverageAgeofOperators


Figure10.Hoursperweekspentworkingonthefarmbynumberofoperators.StatisticsCanada.

Ifwe compare Figure 11with Figure 10we see that thenumber of operatorsworkingmore than40hoursperweekoffthefarmremainedstablefrom2006to2011,butthenumberofoperatorsworkingfrom20–40hoursperweekdecreasedin2011.Atotalof44%offarmoperatorsin2006didnotdoanypaidworkoffofthefarm,while48%offarmoperatorsin2011didnotdoanypaidworkoffthefarm.Thismeansthatthenumberoffarmersworkingonthefarmhasremainedrelativelystablewithaslightdecreaseinthoseworkingoffthefarm.

Figure11.Numberofoperatorsworkingoffthefarmonpaidwork.StatisticsCanada.

60

15

40

25

65

1520

25

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

None Lessthan20 20-40 Morethan40

PaidNon-FarmWork(NumberofOperators)

2006 2011

70

50

25

60

3020

01020304050607080

Lessthan20 20-40 Morethan40

Num

bero

fOpe

rators

Hoursperweek

HoursPerWeekSpentWorkingontheFarm

2006 2011


ThemajorityoffarmsintheSGIregionareinasoleproprietorshiparrangement.Thepercentageoffarmsthatareasoleproprietorshipdecreasedfrom52%in2006to48%in2011.Partnershipswithawrittenagreementandfamilycorporationsincreasedslightly,whilepartnershipswithwrittenagreementsremainedthesame.

Figure12.Typesoffarmbusinessarrangements.StatisticsCanada.

EconomicSituation

Overall,intheSGIfarmsbecamelessprofitablefrom2006to2011.Thegrossmargindecreasedfrom-6.31% in 2006 to -15.12% in 2011,meaning that for every dollar of sales, the farmer is losing 15.12cents. The BC gross margin average is 11.3%, so the SGI falls far below the average range forprofitability.Asexpected,grossfarmreceiptshaverisensince2006,butsohaveoperatingexpenses.

Table20.Farmprofitabilityfrom2006to2011.StatisticsCanada.

GrossFarmReceipts($) TotalOperatingExpenses($) GrossMargin(%)

2006 2011 2006 2011 2006 20011

1,095,361 2,071,207 1,164,515 2,384,468 -6.31% -15.12%

Therevenueperhectareincreasedfrom$376.67in2006to$925.47in2011,whichisencouraging,but,asmentionedabove,thesefiguresdonottakeoperatingexpensesintoaccount.

46

3

27

9

4

39

4

27

11

1

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Soleproprietorship

Partnershipwithwrisenagreement

Partnershipwithoutwrisenagreement

Familycorporaton

Non-familycorporaton

NumberofFarms

FarmBusinessArrangements

2006 2011


Table21.RevenueperhectareoffarmsintheSouthernGulfIslands.StatisticsCanada.

Year #ofFarms GrossReceipts($)

AverageperFarm($)

TotalFarmArea(Hectares)

AverageperHectare($)

2006 89 $1,095,361 $12,307 2,908 $376.67

2011 82 $2,071,207 $25,259 2,238 $925.47

Table22indicatesthecomparisonofrevenueperhectareoftheSGIregiontootherRegionalDistrictsintheProvince.Theaverageismuchlowerthaninotherregions,butissimilarinsizeoffarmstotheStrathconaRegionalDistrictandtheAlberni-ClayoqoutRegionalDistrict.ThisindicatesthattheSGIregionislimitedinitsprofitability.

Perhaps not surprisingly then, 60%of farmswere earning less than$10,000 in gross farm receipts in2011.Lessthanhalfofthefarmsaremakingover$10,000andonly9%aremakingmorethan$50,000peryear.

Table22.RevenueperhectarecomparisonwithareasinBC.StatisticsCanada2011.

Location NumberofFarms

GrossFarmReceipts($)

TotalFarmedArea(Hectares)

AveragePerHectare($)

SGI 82 $1,095,361 2908 $376.67

CapitalRegion 1,093 $50,874,004 6399 $7,950

Nanaimo 478 $26,913,383 3424 $7,860

CowichanValley 685 $48,069,900 6147 $7,820

Strathcona 98 $4,344,725 637 $6,821

ComoxValley 432 $31,212,798 5491 $5,684

Alberni-Clayoquot 93 $4,500,709 1079 $4,171


Figure33.TotalGrossFarmReceiptsin2011.StatisticsCanada.

Asisexpectedwiththeoverallprovincialriseinhousingprices,thevalueoffarmshaveincreasedsince2006.MostofthefarmsintheSGIfallwithinthe$500,000to$999,000range.

Table22.TotalFarmCapitalValueofFarmsintheSGIRegion(NumberofFarms).StatisticsCanada.

2006 2011

Under$100,000 6 1

$100,000-$199,999 6 4

$200,000-$349,999 11 7

$350,000-$499,999 19 7

$500,000-$999,999 22 30

$1,000,000-$1,499,999 11 12

$1,500,000-$1,999,999 6 4

$2,000,000-$3,499,999 5 12

$3,500,000andover 3 5

Totalfarmoperatingexpensesmorethandoubledfrom2006to2011.Thelargestincreasesoccurredincash wages, fuel expenses, fertilizer and lime purchases, seed and seedling purchases, total farminterestexpensesandallotherfarmoperatingexpenses.Veterinaryservicesdecreasedovertime,whichisconsistentwiththereductioninlivestockoperationsontheislands.Repairsandmaintenancetofarm

49

179

3 3 0 1 00

10

20

30

40

50

60

TotalGrossFarmReceipts($)


buildingsalsodecreasedfrom2006to2011.

Table23.FarmOperatingExpenses($).StatisticsCanada.

2006 2011

Totalfarmoperatingexpenses 1,164,515 2,384,468

Totalcashwages 208,821 596,687

Cashwagespaidtofamilymembers 94,454 108,600

Cashwagespaidtoallotherpersons 114,367 461,087

Allfuelexpenses 105,536 202,797

Fertilizerandlimepurchases 32,457 60,994

Chemicalpurchases 2,997 x

Seedandseedlingpurchases 32,462 79,531

Feedandsupplementpurchases 125,218 128,071

Livestockandpoultrypurchases 19,189 23,088

Veterinaryservices 28,224 13,967

Totalfarminterestexpenses 41,400 333,671

Electricity 65,902 109,358

Repairsandmaintenancetofarmbuildings 80,366 66,314

Repairsandmaintenancetofarmmachinery,equipmentandvehicles

111,672 123,845

Allotherfarmoperatingexpenses 232,023 531,101


Planning&PolicyContext

Governance

AsmentionedpreviouslytheunincorporatedareaknownSouthernGulfIslandshasauniquelocalgovernancestructure.LikealloftheGulfIslandareaslocatedsoutheastofCourtenayandnorthofVictoriatheSGIregionisunderthejointjurisdictionoftheCRDandtheIslandsTrust.TheCRDprovidesmanyofthelocalgovernmentfunctionsandservicesnormallyfoundwithinaMunicipalityortown,whiletheIslandTrustregulatesalllanduseandadministersOfficialCommunityPlanswithintheareathroughthe5LocalTrustCommittees(LTC).TheIslandsTrustanditsLTCsareinvolvedintheagriculturalplanningprocess.

Agricultureexistsinacomplexpolicyandregulatorycontext,interactingwithalllevelsofgovernmentonvariouselementsoffarmingthatrangefromfoodsafetytohabitatandfisheriesmanagementandlanduse.Inadditiontorolesinpolicyandregulation,theprovincialandfederalgovernmentsalsoadministervariousservicesandsupportprogrammingtotheindustry.Localgovernmentisnotdirectlyresponsibleforagriculture,butinfluencestheindustryparticularlyduetoitsroleindevelopingandadministeringlanduseplansandbylaws.

Inaddition,theAgriculturalLandReserveinBChasasignificantimpactondesignatedagriculturallands,whereagriculturalusesareprioritizedandotheractivitiesarecontrolled.ALRregulationtakesprecedenceoverotherlegislationorbylawsinthesedesignatedareas,butdoesnotreplacethem.LocalgovernmentsmustensurethatplansandbylawsareincompliancewiththeAgriculturalLandCommissionActandGuidelines.AnyproposedexclusionsoflandthatiscurrentlydesignatedasALRmustbeapprovedbytheALCtotakeeffect23.

AgriculturalGovernanceFrameworkOverview

InCanada,thefederalandprovincialgovernmentssharejurisdictionoveragricultureasexpressedintheCanadianConstitution.In2005,theSupremeCourtreaffirmedtheAgriculturalProductsandMarketingAct,whichstatesthatwhileproductionofagriculturalproductsisexclusivelyprovincialjurisdiction,alltrade(inter-provinciallyorinternationally)isfederal.24Asaresult,marketingisshared. Alistofkeypiecesofprovincialandlocalagriculturallegislationandregulationsareincludedbelow.AlistingofrelevantfederalaninternationallawsandregulationsisprovidedinAppendixA.

ProvincialGovernance

AgriculturalLandCommission(ALC)Act

TheALCActistheprimarytoolforfarmlandprotectioninBC,andappliestolandswithintheAgricultureLandReserve(ALR).ItistheALC’smissionto"preserveagriculturalland,encouragetheestablishment

23 AgriculturalLandCommission(undated)ALR&CommunityPlanningGuidelines.Accessed18/08/13athttp://www.alc.gov.bc.ca/publications/Community_Planning_Guidelinescolour.pdf

24 EnvironmentalLawCentreSociety.2007.LegalbarrierstoIncreasedLocalFoodProductionandDistribution.FileNo.2007-01-04.UniversityofVictoria.


andmaintenanceoffarmsandtheuseoflandinanagriculturalreservecompatiblewithagriculturalpurposes".AttheinceptionoftheALR,regionaldistrictswererequiredtoadoptLandReservePlansviabylawsandfilethemwiththeALC.OCPsandbylawsmaynotcontradicttheALCAct;however,anyALRlanduseapplicationmustbefirstfiledwiththelocalgovernment.IfanapplicationisfortheexclusionoflandfromtheALR,fornon-farmuseortosubdividelandwithintheALRwhereabylawpermitsfarming,thelocalgovernmentcanrejecttheapplication,orapprovetheapplicationandforwardittotheALCforconsideration,orforwardtheapplicationtotheALCwithoutcomment.25Asaresult,localgovernmentisnotdirectlyresponsibleforagriculture,butinfluencestheindustryparticularlyduetoitsroleindevelopingandadministeringlocallanduseplansandbylaws.

AgriculturalLandReserveUse,SubdivisionandProcedureRegulation(2002)

Thisregulationdefinesactivitiesdesignatedasfarmuses;establishespermittednon-farmusesintheAgriculturalLandReserve;regulatessoilremovalandtheplacementoffillwithintheALR;establisheswhattypesofapplicationsarefileddirectlywiththeCommission;definessubdivisionspermittedwithoutapplication;setsprocessandnotificationrequirementsforlocalgovernment,landownerandcommissionapplicationsforinclusion,exclusionandnonfarmuses;andsetscriteriaforfeesandpenalties.

TheAgriculturalLandCommissionhasalsoestablishedpolicieswhichaddresshomesiteseveranceforlandownerswhoownedtheirpropertybeforetheestablishmentoftheALR;andwhichclarifyandexpandonexistingregulationspertainingtoagri-tourism;farmretailsales;onfarmprocessing;wineriesandcideries;andadditionaldwellingsforfamilymembersorfarmhelp.

AssessmentAct

Propertyassessmentisaprovincialresponsibility,inwhichbuildingsareclassifiedandtheirvalueassessedeachyear.26

EnvironmentalManagementAct

TheEnvironmentalManagementActregulatescertainagriculturalpracticessuchasopenburningandhandlingofwastefrompesticideuseandwastecompostproduction.27

FarmPracticesProtection(RighttoFarm)Act

TheFarmPracticesProtection(RighttoFarm)ActwasenactedasProvinciallegislationin1996toaffordprotectiontofarmbusinessesfromnuisancecomplaintsresultingfromdust,odour,noiseorotheroccurrencesarisingfromnormalfarmoperatingpractices.TheActestablishedtheFarmIndustryReviewBoard,whichservesasaforumtohearcomplaintsconcerningfarmingactivities28.

25 CRDRoundtableontheEnvironment:FoodandAgricultureSubcommittee.WhatcanandShouldLocalGovernmentsdotoProtectandEnhanceLocalAgriculture?June11,2009.

26 Ibid.27 Ibid.28 Seehttp://www.legis.gov.bc.ca/37th3rd/3rdread/gov21-3.htm


HealthAct&FoodSafetyAct

BothActsareadministeredbytheBCMinistryofHealth,andestablishstandardsandproceduresaimedatprotectingpublichealthincludingfoodsafety,andfood-relatedhealthinspection.TheFoodSafetyActcoverstopicssuchasinspectionsforthemeatandmilkindustries,andtheFoodPremisesRegulation;regulationswhichhavebeenconsidereddetrimentaltosmall-scalefarmersduetotheirfocusonlarge-scaleindustrialoperationsandresource-intensiveproductionframeworks.29

MarketingBoards

WhatisnowtheFarmIndustryReviewBoard,createdin1934underprovisionsoftheNaturalProductsMarketing(B.C.)Act,istheprovincialorganizationthatoverseestheactivitiesofallcommoditymarketingboardsorcommissions,includingthosespecifictotheagricultureindustry.ThemandateoftheBritishColumbiaMarketingBoardistoensurethemaintenanceoforderlymarketconditionsintheprovincebymonitoringproductdemand,productionquotas,andpricestructures.Therearecurrentlynine(9)Boards/CommissionsinplaceundertheumbrellaoftheprovincialMarketingBoardasfollows:B.C.BroilerHatchingEggCommission;B.C.ChickenMarketingBoard;B.C.CranberryMarketingBoard;B.C.EggMarketingBoard;B.C.HogMarketingCommission;B.C.MilkMarketingBoard;B.C.MushroomCommission;B.C.TurkeyMarketingBoard;and,B.C.VegetableMarketingCommission.

MeatInspectionRegulation

PartoftheFoodSafetyActandcameintoforcein2004.CompliancebecamemandatoryinSeptember2007.Thisregulationestablishesrequirementsforprovinciallylicensedslaughterfacilities(note:federallylicensedfacilitiesareregulatedbytheMeatInspectionActoftheCanadianFoodInspectionAgency),introducinganoutcome-basedstandardformeatprocessingsafetythatincludes.Thesechangeshadasignificantimpactonsmall-scaleslaughteractivities,especiallyinsmallandremotecommunities.

WaterAct&WaterSustainabilityAct

Currently,theWaterActenablesprovincialcontroloverallsurfaceandgroundwaterinBC;however,therearecurrentlyveryfewregulationsinplaceforgroundwaterprotection.Alicenseforagriculturalrelatedwateruseisrequiredunlesswateriscollectedonthelandordrawnfromawell.WorksaroundstreamsmayrequirepermitsundertheWaterAct,theprovincialFishProtectionActandthefederalFisheriesAct.AgricultureisexemptfromProvincialRiparianAreaRegulations.30In2014theprovincialgovernmentintroducedtheWaterSustainabilityAct,whichwillupdateandreplacetheCentury-oldWaterActandisanticipatedtocomeintoeffectintheSpringof2015.31

29 MasselinkEnvironmentalDesign.2008.SaltSpringIslandAreaFarmPlan.30 CRDRoundtableontheEnvironment:FoodandAgricultureSubcommittee.WhatcanandShouldLocalGovernmentsdoto

ProtectandEnhanceLocalAgriculture?June11,2009.31 http://engage.gov.bc.ca/watersustainabilityact/files/2013/10/WSA_legislative-proposal_web-doc.pdf


LocalGovernance

LandTitleAct

TheLandTitleActgovernstheoveralldispositionoflandwithinBritishColumbia.Section86(1)oftheLandTitleActgivesapprovingofficersthepowertoassesstheimpactsofsubdivisiononfarmlandintermsofbufferingfromadjoiningusessuchasroadsanddevelopmentsthatcouldinterferewithfarmingoperations.32

LocalGovernmentAct

TheLGAprovidesthelegislativeframeworkforlocalgovernments.Agricultureprovisionssuchascommunityplanning,zoning,nuisanceregulations,removalanddepositofsoil,weedandpestcontrolandwaterusageareincludedundertheAct.Sectionsthataddressplanningforagricultureinclude:

• ArequirementthatOCPsincludepoliciesandmapdesignationsrelatedtotheapproximatelocation,amountandtypeofpresentandproposedagriculturallanduses.

• TheabilitytoincorporatepoliciesinOCPsrelatingtothemaintenanceandenhancementofagriculturallands.

• ArequirementthatOCPbylawswhichmightaffectagriculturallandbereferredtotheALCforcommentafterfirstreading.

• Theabilityforlocalgovernmentstodesignatedevelopmentpermitareasfortheprotectionoffarming.

• Arestrictionontheabilityoflocalgovernmentstoprohibitorrestricttheuseoflandforfarminginfarmingareas,principallylandintheALR.

• In areasdesignatedas farmingareasby theMinistryofAgriculture and Lands thatMinistrymay set standards for approval of zoning bylaws restricting farm use in agricultural areas;establishing agricultural standards for bylaw preparation; permitting the creation of “farmbylaws”bylocalgovernments;andreviewingbylawstoensuretheymeetministerialstandardsforagriculture.33ThisdoesnotapplytotheTrustAreaasithasnotbeendesignatedafarmingareabytheMinistry(Seesections903(5),917and918oftheLocalGovernmentAct).ThereareprosandconstosuchdesignationsthatTrusteesmaywishtoexplorefurther.

Land-usePolicies

OfficialCommunityPlansandLandUseBylawshavesomevariationbetweentheislands,buttypicallyaddressagriculturesimilarly.Thetypicalagriculturalland-usegoalsofthesebylawsare:34

• Topreserveagriculturalland,limitnon-farmusesonagriculturallands,andpreventconversionofagriculturallandtootheruses.

• Toencourageagriculturalactivities,agriculturalbestpractices,theprotectionoffarmland,andthemaintenanceofagriculturalproduction.

32 CRDRoundtableontheEnvironment:FoodandAgricultureSubcommittee.WhatcanandShouldLocalGovernmentsdotoProtectandEnhanceLocalAgriculture?June11,2009

33 Ibid.34 AdaptedfromtheGalianoIslandOCP,AgriculturalLandUsesection:

http://www.islandstrust.bc.ca/media/291927/ocp-bylaw-108_consolidated_nov-2014.pdf


• Tominimizeimpactsonenvironmentallysensitiveecosystems,at-riskspeciesandtheirhabitats,andbiodiversity.

• Toincreaselocalfoodsecuritybyencouraginglocalproductionofagriculturalandhorticulturalproductsforsaledirectlytothepublic.

• Tosupportfarmingasanimportanttraditionallanduse,lifestyleandlivelihood.• Toincreasepublicawarenessofagricultureandfarming.• Topreserveruralcharacter.

TheOCPsalsohaveagriculturaladvocacypolicycomponentsthatfocusonlandsustainability,increasinglocalfoodsecurity,andlobbyingprovincialministries(primarilyMinistryofTransportation,MinistryofAgricultureandMinistryofForests,LandsandNaturalResourceOperations)totakemeasurestoprotectagriculturallands.Theseprovincialagenciesareoftenrequiredtocoordinateontheprovisionofservicesanddecision-makingpertainingtoagriculture,includingavarietyoflanduses,waterprovisionandprotection,wastepolicies,landprotection,shorelineandmarineland-use,andecosystemprotection.

BylawsineffectontheIslandsinclude:

• GalianoIslandOCPBylawNo.108,1995(consolidated2014)• GalianoIslandLandUseBylawNo.127,1999(consolidated2014)• MayneIslandOCPBylawNo.144,2007(consolidated2011)• MayneIslandLandUseBylawNo.146,2008(consolidated2013)• NorthPenderIslandOCPBylawNo.171,2007(consolidated2011)• NorthPenderIslandLandUseBylawNo.103,1996(consolidated2014)• NorthPenderAssociatedIslandsOCPBylawNo.147,2002(consolidated2013)• NorthPenderAssociatedIslandsLandUseBylawNo.148,2003(consolidated2013)• SaturnaIslandOCPBylawsNo.101and109(consolidated2013)• SaturnaIslandLandUseBylawNo.78,2002(consolidated2013)• SouthPenderIslandOCPBylawNo.107,2011• SouthPenderIslandLandUseBylawNo.92,2003(consolidated2011)

Zoning

Eachisland’slandusebylawsincludeanagriculturalzone.Ruralzoningdesignationsalsotypicallyincludeagricultureasapermitteduse.PotentialforrezoningofagriculturallandisstrictlylimitedbytheIslandsTrustPolicyStatement,localtrustcommitteeOCPpoliciesandtheALC.Generally,anyrezoningcouldnotincreasedensityorsignificantlychangetheuse,orrestrictfarminginagriculturallyzonedlands.ApplicationsforrezoningofagriculturallandsonNorthPenderIslandarereferredtotheRegionalAgrologist.

Theislands’OCPpoliciesandzoningtypicallystatethatuseandsitingonpropertiesadjacenttofarmlandwillnotinterferewithfarmingoperations.Forexample,typicallywherebuffersareneededbetweenresidentialandadjacentfarmoperations,theobligationtoprovidethebufferistobebornebythenon-farmlanduse.

OnSaturnaIsland,inadditiontoaregularagricultural/farmzoningdesignation,therearetwootheragriculturally-relatedzoningdesignations:FarmResort(F1)andFarmRetreat(F2).F1makesprovisionsforvintingandbottling,aswellasvisitation,accommodationandrestaurantsassociatedwithvinting.F2


allowsforhostingofeducationalandcelebratoryevents,includingaccommodationsforsuchevents.

DevelopmentPermits

Farmoperationsaretypicallyexemptfromdevelopmentpermits,asdefinedintheFarmPracticesProtection(RighttoFarm)Act,andfarmusesasdefinedinSection2(2)oftheAgriculturalLandReserveUse,Subdivision,andProcedureRegulation.Thisexemptionextendstodevelopmentpermitareas(DPAs)forriparianareas,shorelineandmarineareas,elevatedgroundwatercatchmentareas,sensitiveecosystems,commercialandindustrialformandcharacter,andsteepslopehazardareas.TodatenoLocalTrustCommitteesintheSouthernGulfIslandshaveadoptedDPAsfortheprotectionoffarming.

AdvocacyandEducationPolicies

AvarietyofeducationpoliciesarepresentinGaliano,NorthPenderandMayneIslands’OCPs.Policiesaddressagriculturalawarenessandsupport,forestryaccessandeducation,climatechangeeducation,waterandenergyuseandconservation,wasteeducation,landstewardship,heritageresourcesandecosystemeducation.SouthPender’sOCPaddressesagri-educationaswell.

CreativePolicies

AssummarizedinTable23,theislands’bylawstypicallyencouragefarminginallzones,notjustagriculturalzones,allowforon-sitefoodprocessing,andencourageoff-farmsales(MayneIslandandSouthPenderIslanddonotexplicitlymakeprovisionsforoff-farmsales).Allislandsnowincludeprovisionsforon-farmagri-tourismaccommodationsandbusinessthatcanacttosupplementfarmproductrevenues.

NorthPender’sOCPallowstheLocalTrustCommitteetosupportcreationofaland-for-leaseprogramforlandownerstoidentifythemselvestofarmerswishingtoleasefarmland.

NorthPender’sOCPalsoencouragesprotectionofseasonallyfloodedagriculturalfieldprotection,deemingthispartofhealthyecosystem.

GrowthManagement

TheIslands’land-usebylawsarelargelydesignedtolimitdevelopment,increaseddensity,unwarrantedsubdivisionofland,andpopulationincreases.Restrictionsonresidentialandcommercialdensity,restrictionsonlandsubdivision–especiallyfarmland–anddevelopmenttypeandsizerestrictionsallcontributetolimitinggrowth.Thebylawsalsolargelyservetoconserveislandecosystemsandfarmingoperations.

Table23indicatesIslandsTrustLandUseBylaws’agriculturalzonepermitteduses.SeveralcommonregulationsarefoundinalmosteveryLUB,includingincreasedsetbacksforagriculturalactivities,minimumareasforraisingdomesticfarmanimals,andstrictregulationand/orprohibitionofkeepingpigsand/ormanure-basedmushroomgrowing.

Table23isalooseindicatorofwhereLUBlanguagemayormaynotexplicitlyaddressfoodandagriculture.Itisbynomeanscomplete,anditisunderstoodthatsimplybecauseanactionmaynotbeexplicitlypermittedinanLUB(e.g.communitygardens),doesnotprecludeitfromoccurringonanisland.


Table23.ScanofLandUseBylawsandtheirprovisionsforfoodsecurity(agriculturezonedlandonly).

Island AdditionalHousingPermitted

LargerAccessoryBuildingsPermitted

CommunityFarming/Gardening

Agri-tourismAccomm.

FarmersMarkets/

Off-sitesales

AgriculturePermittedinotherZones

FoodProcessing(Notahomeoccupation)

Galiano X35 X X X X36

X X37

Mayne X38 X X X39 - X X

NorthPender

X40 X X X X X X41

SouthPender

X X X X42 - X X

Saturna X43 X X X44 X45 X46 X

35 Additionaldwellingforevery4ha(9.88ac.)oflotareaover4ha.36 InCommunityFacilityzonesandothersoncase-by-casebasis.37 AsanAdvocacyPolicy.38 Additionaldwellingunitforevery8hectares(20acres)oflotareagreaterthan8hectares(20acres).39 Maybeconsidereduponapplication.40 OnecottageallowedinAgricultureZone.

41 Small-scale42 Maybeconsideredasanaccessoryuse43 Inprimaryresidenceorcottageonly.44 F2-FarmRetreat45 RuralAgriculturalSales(RAS)Zone.46 Minimumlotsizeinnon-farmlandzones.


ChallengesandOpportunities

BasedondiscussionsFoodandAgricultureStrategySteeringCommitteeandwithcommunitymembersduringtheagriculturallandusesurveyconductedinAugust2014,thefollowingchallengesandopportunitieshavebeenidentified.Thisisnotanextensiveordetailedlist,noraretheitemsarrangedinorderofpriorityorpreference.TheywillbefurtherrefinedoverthecourseofthedevelopmentofdevelopingtheFoodandAgricultureStrategythroughengagementwiththepublic,agriculturalcommunityandfurtheranalysis.

IdentifiedOpportunities

Collaboration

TheGulfIslandshavealonghistoryofanactiveandengagedcivicculture,andongoinglocalinitiativesdemonstratethecapacityforcollaborativeinitiativesinthisregionandforagricultureinparticular.Asstrongerrelationshipsanddirectionacrosslocalagenciesandorganizationsrelatedtoagriculturedevelop,itwillbepossibletoapproachotherlevelsofgovernmentfromastrongpositiontoworkeffectivelyonareasofsharedinterestorresponsibility.

Engagedlocalgovernment

TheCRDandIslandsTrustandlocaleconomicdevelopmentorganizationsarealreadyshowingleadershipbyspearheadingdevelopmentofthisAgriculturalStrategy.Aswell,theIslandsTrust,throughtheLocalTrustCommittees,haveestablishedlandusepoliciesaregenerallysupportiveofagriculture.

Entrepreneurshipandinnovation

TherearemanycurrentandpastexamplesofinnovativeandentrepreneurialproducersandorganizationsintheSouthernGulfIslandse.g.FarmGateStore,CampbellFarmAbattoir,SeaStarVineyards,GalianoFoodProgram,PenderIslandCommunityFarmlandAcquisitionProjectSociety,andmanymore.Thesealreadydemonstratethepotentialintargetingnichemarketsandvalue-addedproduction,aswellasbuildingastronglocalfoodeconomy.

Environmental&SocialValues

Asapopulation,GulfIslandershavestrongenvironmentalandsocialvalues.Thereissignificantlocalexpertiseinsustainability,withinterestandawarenessonabroadrangeofassociatedissuesthatincludeaffordablehousing,energy,water,agricultureandlocalfoodproduction.Thereisastrongandgrowingdemandforlocal,organicandnaturalfoods.LocalOCPsaresupportiveofaddressingclimatechangeimpacts,andalmostallidentifylocalfoodproductionasaclimatechangemitigationandadaptationstrategy.

ExistingCommunityFinancialSupport

TheSouthernGulfIslandsarehometoagrowingnumberofretiredandsemi-retiredresidentswhoaregenerousintheirinvestmentandsupportoflocalfoundationsandcharities.Thisisattestedhighnumbernon-profitorganizations.

FarmingHistory&Expertise

TheSouthernGulfIslandshaveastrongagriculturalandfood-relatedhistory.Thishistoryhasresultedin


adiversityandwealthoffarmingknowledgeandskillthatexistswithcurrentandretiredfarmersandtheirfamiliesandisvisiblyexpressedthroughthemanyremainingheritagefarms,fruitorchardsandnuttrees.

FirstNations

Inadditiontothisrecenthistorywehaveover14,000yearsofhumanhistoryandFirstNationscommunitiesthatcontinuetomaintainthismemoryandwisdom.

GrowingLocalFoodMarket

Localfarmersandfoodproducersincreasinglyareabletoselltheirproductslocally.Islandresidentsareoftenwillingtopaymoreforhighquality,locallyproducedfood.ThesummerSaturdayfarmer'smarkets,TrueValueFoods,TheFarmGateStores,farmgatesales,IslandB&Bsandrestaurantscurrentlyprovideopportunitiesforsellingagriculturalproductsonisland.TheproximitytothelargemarketsoftheLowerMainlandandsouthernVancouverIslandalsorepresentanimportantmarketingopportunity.

IslandCulture

Beingan"Islander"isasourceofprideforlocalresidentsandcontributestoourstrongsenseofcommunity.TheGulfIslands’situationencouragesresidentstoconsiderlocaloptionsfirst.TheSGIisanarchipelagoofislandcommunitiesthatareinterestedinreducingourdependencyonoff-islandresources.Theareacouldbecomeamodelforsustainability.

Location–Brand

TheSouthernGulfIslandsareincreasinglybecomingrecognizedasabeautifulmarinearchipelagowithhighscenicandenvironmentalqualitiesandstandards.Activitiesandproductsassociatedwiththislocationareimbuedwiththesecharacterizes.Thebrandinvokesimagesofhealth,wholesomeness,sustainabilityandcraftsmanship.

LocalFoodEconomy&Culture

Agricultureandagriculturalareas(fields)areastrongpartoftheSouthernGulfIslandsvisualidentity,andlocalresidentsvaluetheruralandagriculturalaesthetic.Qualityoflifefeaturescouldattractmoremanagementlevelworkers,andnewfarmers.

SocialCapital

SouthernGulfIslandersareapassionate,diverse,committed,informed,strong-willed,well-educatedandcreativegroupofpeoplewhoareactivelyinvolvedintheircommunity.Thisinnovativeandcooperativespiritextendsintothefarmingcommunityandfostersawillingnesstoworktogethertofindsolutionstocommunityproblems.ThereisalsoastrongactivistandpoliticallyorientatedtraditionamongstmanyIslanders.

SupportiveLocalInstitutions

ThereisadiversityofcommunityorganizationsandlocalinstitutionsworkingonissuesrelatedtoagricultureandlocalfoodproductionintheSouthernGulfIslands.

Tourism

Tourismwas,isandcontinuestobeanimportantaspectoftheSouthernGulfIslandseconomy.Amore


developedandextensivelocalagricultureandfoodeconomyisunderstoodasadesirablegoalthatenhancesthetourismindustryintheregion.Agricultureandagri-tourismareanimportantpartofthecurrenttouristexperience,andcouldsupportamorerobustlocalagricultureeconomy.

IdentifiedChallenges

AccesstoMarkets

ThesmallscaleanddistributednatureofproductionacrosstheSGIcoupledwithferrytransportationcostscouldbealimitationtoaccessinglargermarketsrequiringaminimumvolumeandyear-roundsupply.Accesscouldalsobeabarrier.

Agingproducerpopulationandsuccession

Withtheaverageageoffarmerssurpassingthe60-yearmarkintheSGI,andfeweryoungpeoplebecominginvolvedortakingonfarmingactivities,themaintenanceandtransferoffoodandagriculture-relatedknowledgeandassetsisagrowingconcerninmostislandcommunities.Thisissueisconnectedtohighlandvaluesandinlowreturnforagriculture-relatedproductsandservices.

AvailabilityofWater

WatersupplyandirrigationisalongstandingconcernandlimitationtoproductionintheSouthernGulfIslands.Droughtysummerconditionscoupledwithlimitedaccessiblewatersupplieslimittheuseofirrigation.Lessthanxx%ofagriculturallandintheareaiscurrentlyirrigated.Thereisalimited(andpossiblydiminishing)supplyofqualitygroundwaterandgrowingcompetitionfromnon-farminguses.Informationaboutsurfaceandgroundwatersuppliesacrosstheregionisnotadequate.Climatechangecouldmakethissituationworseinthesummer(drought)andinthewinter(flooding).Otherissuesincludethedistributionofwater,andwatercollectionandretention.

ConflictswithNewNeighbours

Asnon-farmersandothernewresidentsmoveintofarmingareas,thereisanincreasedpotentialforconflictbetweenfarmersandresidentialpropertyownersoversuchissuesasnoise,wateruse,waterqualityandsmells.

CriticalInfrastructureGaps

Anumberofimportantagriculture-supportinginfrastructureelementsarenotavailableorinshortsupplyontheSouthernGulfIslands.Wheretheyexist,theyaredifficulttoaccessduetoalimitedanddiminishingferryschedule.Infrastructureneedsinclude:on-islandmeatprocessingandstoragefacilities;long-termcoldstoragefacilities;adequatefoodprocessingfacilities;andcertainfarmequipmentandtechnology.Someofthesegapsareadirectresultofproblematicprovincialandfederalgovernmentregulations.Localgovernmentbylawsandlackofcoordinationorcooperationamongstproducersandprocessorsmayalsobecontributingfactors.

EconomicViability

FarmingontheSouthernGulfIslandsisnotconsideredtobeafinanciallyprofitableenterprise.Reasonsinclude:higherinputandoperatingcosts–directlyaresultofincreasedtransportationcosts;thehighcostforlabourandlackofhousingontheIslands;highercapitalcostsandresultingdebtloads.Thesecostsmakeitdifficulttocompetewithoff-Islandproducersthathavelowercostsand/orsupportive


subsidies.TheretailpriceforlocalfoodontheIslandoftendoesnotreflectthetruecostofproduction.Theremaybeareluctanceorlackofunderstandingorreluctanceamongstlocalconsumerstopaythehigherpricesnecessarytogivelocalfarmersanadequatereturnfortheirservicesandproducts.

EnvironmentalImpactsofFarming

ThereisarangeoffarmingpracticesoccurringintheSouthernGulfIslands.Whileagrowingnumberoffarmersandfoodproducersareinterestedinorganicorecologicalpracticesthereareconcernsaboutthecontinuationofconventionalapproachesandthepotentialforunintendedimpactsthatagriculturecanhave.Theseincludebutarenotlimitedto:groundandwatersystemcontamination,disturbanceofsensitiveandendangeredecosystems,introductionofdiseaseandreleaseofinvasiveplants,pollutionofwatershedsbylivestockandovergrazing,aquacultureoperations,theexcessiveuseofwater,andwastedisposal.

FarmlandNotBeingFarmed

Increasingdevelopmentpressureonagriculturalpropertiesandortheirbeingboughtanddevelopedasresidentialestatesandnotbeingfarmed.Retiringfarmershavefewoptionsiftheywanttoselltheirlandas“farmland”.Whileleasearrangementsarepossible,variousroadblocksexistincludinglandownerperceptionsofalossofcontrolovertheirproperty,andregulatoryrestrictionsonmultipleleasearrangementswithintheAgriculturalLandReserve(ALR).LocalgovernmentispressuredtoconsiderthesitingofcommunityservicefacilitiesonALRlandwithoutanofferofcompensationorlocalreplacementfortheALRlandlost.

GlobalImpacts:Economicandenvironmentalchange

Volatilityofmarketsisanongoingconcern,whilenegativeimpactsonothergrowingregionsmaycreateopportunitieshere.Climatechangeimpactsforagriculturewillbesignificant,andtakingadvantageofopportunitieswillrequireproactiveeffort.

HighCostofLand

WhilepriceshavelevelledoffandareevenindeclineinsomeareasoftheIsland,thepriceofagriculturallandisstillhighandremainsasignificantbarrierformanynewfarmers.

InabilitytoAchieveLocalFoodSecurity

Islandfarmersandfoodgrowersareunabletoproduceandprocessenoughfoodtoachieveareasonableleveloflocalfoodsecurity.Thereisageneralfeelingthatfarmlandisnotbeingusedtoitsfullagriculturalpotential.Thereisalsoconcernthatenvironmentalissues,limitedwateravailabilityduringthegrowingseason,soilfertilityissues,thedecliningnumberoffarmsandfarmers,coupledwithaninabilitytoworkcollaborativelyonandbetweentheislandsispreventingtheSouthernGulfIslandsfromachievinglocalfoodsecurity.

Labour&HousingShortages

Localfarmersandfoodproducersandprocessorsstruggletofindconsistent,reliable,affordablypricedskilledandunskilledlabour.Thischallengeiscompoundedbythelackofaffordablehousingforfarmlabourersandnewfarmers.Currentregulationsrestricttheconstructionofpermanent,on-farmhousing.


LackofNewFarmers

Therearenotenoughyoungornewfarmerstoreplacefarmerswhoareretiringorleaving.Barrierssuchasthehighcostofland,limitedaccessesarrangements,poorfinancialreturns,alackofskillsandmentoringopportunities,andthelimitedmarketmaybehavingachillingeffect.

LackofProvincial&FederalSupportforSmallFarms

Federalandprovincialagricultureandfoodpolicyisperceivedtobeunsupportiveofthesmall-scalefarmingoperationstypicalintheSouthernGulfIslands.Thefocusoffederalandprovincialagriculturalpolicyandfinancialsubsidiesisvisiblycenteredonthedemandsandinterestsoflarge-scaleagri-business.

LackofSkillsTraining

Therearelimitedlocalopportunitiesforpeopletolearntheskillsandknowledgenecessaryforfarming.Educationalprogramsinschoolsandeducationalopportunitieselsewhereabouttheimportanceandchallengesoflocalfoodproductionareeithernotpresentorextremelylimited.Farmingisnolongerpromotedasaviableorattractivevocation.Localresidentslackcoursestolearnbasicskillssuchasfoodpreservingorgardening.

LimitedAppreciationofLocalFarming&FoodProductionIssues

Thepublicat-largemaynothaveasufficientunderstandingofmanyoftheissuesassociatedwithfarmingandlocalfoodproduction.Thisincludessuchaspectsaspeoplenotrecognizingthetruecostofproducingfoodlocally,customers’unwillingnesstopaymoreforlocalfood,alackofunderstandingoftheeconomicplightofsmallfarms,thepublicnotappreciatingthemultiplebenefits(social,community,environmental)oflocalfoodproduction,consumerbuyinghabitsandexpectationsofallfoodstuffsbeingavailableyear-round,andlackofconcernabouthowglobalenvironmentalandeconomicchangesmayimpactlocalsystems.

LimitedCollaboration

Ourislandgeography,declinesininterislandtransportationoptions,thesolitarynatureoffarmingandfoodproduction,competitionforlimitedmarketsandresources,andhistoryhaveimpactedourabilitytoworkcooperativelyasislandcommunitiesmuchlessasanarchipelagoofinterest.

LossofFarmingCulture

Evenwitharichandunderstoodagriculturalhistory,theIslandsarehavingdifficultymaintainingtheiragrarianheritageandculture.Thereareveryfewmultigenerationalfarmfamiliesremainingontheislandthatcanseetheirchildrencontinuingtofarm.Thislackofcontinuityandconnectionwiththelandandwithfarmsisasignificantissue,astheassociatedknowledgerequiredtoproperlystewardthesefarmscannotbemaintained.

RestrictiveLocalGovernmentRegulations&Policies

Small-scaleagricultureandlocalfoodproductiondonotappeartobehighpriorityissues.Thisisreflectedinpoliciesandspecificregulationsthatarenotalwayssensitivetothechallengesfacedbyislandfarmerswhoaretryingtomaintainlocal,smaller-scalefarmandprocessingoperations.


AppendixA:ProvincialandFederalLegislation

ThefollowingisasummaryofkeyProvincialandFederallegislationpertainingtoagriculture.

FederalPolicy&Legislation

Federallegislativeprovisionscoverarangeofnationalandinternationalintereststhataffectactivitiesofthelocalagriculturalindustry.

WorldTradeOrganization(WTO)

TheWTOistheprimarymultilateralinstitutionestablishedtoaddresscross-bordertradeagreements,negotiations,disputeresolution,tradepolicymonitoringandtechnicalassistanceforitsmembership.TheWTOAgreementonAgriculture,ratifiedin1995,focusedontheestablishmentandmaintenanceofafairandmarket-orientedinternationaltradingsystemforagriculturalgoods47.

NorthAmericanFreeTradeAgreement(NAFTA)

NAFTAisatrilateralagreementestablishedin1994betweenCanada,UnitedStatesandMexicotoencourageandfacilitateincreasedtradeandinvestmentbetweenthemembernations,andtoworktowardtheeliminationofalltariffandnon-tarifftradebarriers.ManyagriculturalinterestswereaddressedinaCanada-U.S.agreementsignedin1998,whichprovidedforthebilateralremovaloftariffsonmostgoods.Also,aCanada-Mexicoagreementsignedin1994providesforthegraduatedremovaloftariffsbetweenthosecountriesby2003,withnotableexceptionsincludingdairy,poultry,eggproductsandsugar48.

CanadianAgriculturalProductsAct

TheCanadianAgriculturalProductsAct,undertheumbrellaoftheMinistryforAgriculture,FoodsandFisheries,regulatestheimport,exportandinterprovincialtrademarketingofagriculturalproducts.ThisActstandardizesagriculturalgradingandinspectingproceduresacrossCanada49.

Canada-BritishColumbiaImplementationAgreement(2003)

TheCanada-BritishColumbiaImplementationAgreementwasadoptedin2003asaroadmapfortheimplementationofthenationalAgriculturalPolicyFramework(APF)withinBritishColumbia.TheAgreementaddressesabroadrangeofissuesincludingriskmanagement,foodsafetyandfoodquality,scienceandinnovation,environmentandrenewalmanagement.

SpeciesatRiskAct(2003)

TheSpeciesatRiskActwasenactedasFederallegislationin2003toencourageprotectionofendangeredfishandwildlifespecies.ThepossibilityofincludingamechanismwithintheActthatwouldallowforprovisionofcompensationtofarmerswhoareaffectedbyconservationagreementsiscurrentlyunderconsideration.

47 Seehttp://www.agr.gc.ca/itpd-dpci/english/trade_agr/wto.htm48 Seehttp://www.agr.gc.ca/itpd-dpci/english/trade_agr/nafta.htm49 Seehttp://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/resmgmt/fppa/refguide/appendix1.htm


FisheriesAct

TheCanadianFisheriesActaddressestheprotectionoffishhabitatsandoutlinesmeasuresforpollutionprevention.TheActstipulatesthatagriculturalapplicationssuchasfertilizers,pesticides,fuel,manureorsuspendedsolidsmustnotadverselyaffectfishhabitats,andthatfarmingactivitiesmustnotdamageorobstructanyfish-bearingwaterways.

Additionalfederallegislationthataddressvariousaspectsoftheagricultureindustryinclude:CanadaGrainAct;CanadaWildlifeAct;ConsumerPackagingandLabelingAct;CustomsAct;ExportandImportPermitsAct;FeedsAct;FertilizersAct;FoodandDrugsAct,HealthofAnimalsAct;MigratoryBirdsConventionAct;PestControlProductsAct;PlantProtectionAct;SeedsAct;TransportationofDangerousGoodsAct;and,WildlifeAct.

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