Dear Editor:
What is now…always should be.
This is my consolidated perception of all citizens in favour of protecting the Agricultural Land Reserve.
I would like to start by correcting the reporter that was on Global that stated that the ”Save the Summerland ALR” was steadily gaining support with 315 views on their website.
I viewed the website, not in support of it but as a means to get informed on their view, giving me the ability to provide an educated comment.
Saving the land in no way solidifies that what is on the land will be saved.
Case in point if you have taken a drive south lately you will realize that what were once fruit trees are now vineyards.
For those that appreciate having the ability to live close to town but can walk down the street and pet your neighbours horse, be intoxicated by the beauty and scent of cherry blossoms and give a wave to the man sitting on the tractor wearing full protective gear spraying the fruit trees, I understand your resistance to change.
There were 62.5 per cent of the respondents from the citizen’s survey who indicated their vision of Summerland as “agricultural.”
Is it possible that their vision may be heavily persuaded by the current agriculture and the perception that agriculture is vineyards and fruit trees?
Medicinal marijuana is a legal crop approved by the federal government.
The Agricultural Land Commission has ruled it permissible for farmers to grow medicinal marijuana on the ALR.
B.C. Agriculture is demanding that the B.C. government support the growing of medicinal marijuana on the ALR.
The municipality of Maple Ridge has not opposed marijuana as a legal crop, however they have restricted the growth to land in the ALR.
In favour of saving our land Erin Carlson states, “It is flat, arable and would be profitable to a modern farming enterprise.”
Would all citizens in favour of saving the ALR still be in favour of this if medicinal marijuana were the “profitable modern farming enterprise?”
As we see so many of our orchards being replaced by vineyards is it possible that the cultivation of marijuana will become the next profitable crop?
Can we ask to save what we have now and then ask for protection from it later?
Remember we are asking to save the land and not what is grown on the land.
If the growth and cultivation of medicinal marijuana is the crop of the future where do we want it to happen?
Carie Sandrelli
Summerland