B.C.’s snap election has put work on several agriculture priorities on hold, including recommendations from the Premier’s Task Force on Agriculture and Food Economy and efforts to assess potential AgriRecovery support following this summer’s wildfires and drought.
Premier David Eby called a provincial election for Oct. 24, dissolving the legislature and moving the provincial government into caretaker mode for the campaign.
The BC Agriculture Council (BCAC) says the timing leaves unfinished work on issues including agricultural water storage, groundwater licensing, farm classification, labour shortages and access to capital.
BCAC co-chaired the Premier’s Task Force on Agriculture and Food Economy, which developed 32 recommendations covering water, competitiveness, labour and talent, land and investment. The recommendations were presented to government late last year.
Work had also begun to assess damage from this summer’s wildfires and drought and explore whether B.C. could build a case for assistance through AgriRecovery, the federal-provincial disaster recovery framework for agricultural producers.
“Every week this is delayed is a week further from the growing season in which producers need this support to matter,” BCAC said in a statement following the election call.
The council said delays could extend beyond the campaign if a new government, ministers or priorities emerge after the election.
BCAC plans to approach each political party during the campaign about its plans for agriculture and food security and says it will be ready to resume discussions with whichever government forms after Oct. 24.
BCAC represents more than 20,000 farm and ranch businesses across British Columbia.