Animal Health Policy in B.C.

At CAS’s January 5, 2011 meeting it was brought to our attention that the B.C. government had distributed a survey regarding animal health policy, with the intent of revising the current legislation.

From the Government
The B.C. government’s press release is online here.

The discussion paper and survey are online here. The survey was supposed to close at midnight on January 23, 2011, but for some reason it closed at least 24 hours earlier. It was then extended until midnight on January 30, 2011.

Our Response
With the close of the survey and no further consultation planned (as far as we know), we strongly recommend that those who wish to provide input on the process write a letter to the Minister of Agriculture.

For letter ideas and the Minister’s contact information, please click here.

Further information on this issue will be posted below, as it becomes available.

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Due to concerns regarding the B.C. government’s “consultation” process, CAS passed a motion to write a letter to our official representative to the B.C. government, expressing our concerns:

Letter from the Cowichan Agricultural Society & Farmers’ Institute to Dennis Lapierre – F.A.R.M. Community Council
on January 13, 2011

To download a printable pdf version of the letter, please click here.

Re: Proposed Changes to the Animal Health Policy

Animal health questions are a major interest to farmers and the general public in the Cowichan Valley. Food security, soil and water management and agricultural sustainability are essential to the quality of life and economic outlook in the Cowichan Valley and throughout Vancouver Island.

This proposed policy revision appears to be primarily focussed on the economic implications for the high density export sector of the animal industry, and for interprovincial and international trade. As such, it neglects the primary issue of health and security of food for British Columbians. The policy is suggestive of trade offs in local health and animal disease management in favour of strengthening the confidence (i.e. preference) of Canada’s trading partner interests. We cannot support a provincial government that does not put the security of food supply and the health of its citizenry first.

Further, the proposed changes have the potential for substantially restricting animal management and thereby increasing the costs of smaller farm operations in favour of government authority: for example, through licensing and surveillance. The sustainability of communities in this province as well as the long-term security of our food supply is increasingly recognized as being dependent on the viability of small and diverse mixed farms. It is unconscionable that agricultural and animal health policy for the 21st century in B.C. not recognize this reality.

We want your assurance that, following this initial round of public comment (and comment, not consultation, it is) there will be substantive consultation on the specific draft policy proposals. Better information is required to respond more thoroughly. Consistent with the theme of open government and accountability, drafters of the policy should hear the concerns and interests articulated by farmers and in the communities.

In short, consultation by online survey is not sufficient. Farmers need more information directly from those involved in the policy creation and an opportunity to ask questions of them in person on a repeated basis as the policy develops.

Given the importance of animal health in this Valley, and in anticipation of a more substantive consultation in the near future, we have urged the members of the Cowichan Agricultural Society to respond to your general questionnaire. We are also circulating copies of this letter to public officials identified below. I look forward to receiving your confirmation of a continued policy consultation.

Yours truly,
John Milne
Acting President – Cowichan Agricultural Society

c.c. Ben Stewart, BC Minister of Agriculture,
Linda Bates, BC Ministry of Agriculture Policy Branch,
Lana Popham, MLA-Saanich South,
Bill Routley, MLA-Cowichan Valley,
Doug Roultey, MLA-Nanaimo-North Cowichan,
Jean Crowder, MP-Nanaimo-Cowichan,
Gerry Ritz, Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food,
Andy Dolberg, Chair BCAC,
Dave Thomson, District A Farmers Institute

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Response to CAS’s January 13, 2011 letter from Dennis Lapierre, F.A.R.M. Community Council
received January 15, 2011

Thank you for this, John,

I attended a conference call with meat producer organizations that are members of the BCAC and mentioned the concerns I’ve been picking up via personal e-mails and the Network from community and small farm members.

I can tell you that the producers in that call were generally in favour of the tone and direction of the proposed changes. They were seeing it from the point of view of emergency response and disease control and the potential impact animal health problems can have on their operations. Such impact can be substantial, as you can well imagine.

I can also tell you that, from the point of view of members of the organizations I represent, there has been no negative feedback.

You might check to see if your Farmer’s Institute is a member in good standing with the FARM Community Council, which is one of the two organizations I speak directly on behalf of on the BCAC.

Kelvin Johnson, whom I am CC’ing in this message, is the president of the FARM Community Council.

As a small scale producer myself, I well understand the relative difference and perspective of the small producer and, via the Network am pleased to be able to have a vehicle for gleaning community sentiment and passing it along, which I do. But, as far as what voice I carry forward to the BCAC is concerned, I am obliged to respect the views of the two organizations I represent.

best regards,
Dennis

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John Milne’s email to Dennis Lapierre
sent January 17, 2011

Thank you for your rapid response Dennis,

I am a newly minted member of the Cowichan Agricultural Society and Farmer’s Institute (CAS) board as well as being new to BC so I am still trying to sift through all of the various acronyms, groups and organizations and political structures of the food and agriculture movement here in BC and in the Cowichan in particular.

I was under the impression that you were the FARM rep to the BCAC and therefore the voice of small-scale farmers in BC. Is that correct? What is the other organization that you represent? I wasn’t aware that there was a membership requirement for FARM (the way I’ve heard it spoken about it sounded like it was a group that represented the interest of all small-scale farmers) so I don’t know if CAS is a member or not. Is that something that FARM could look up and let me know about? I know that we’re members of District A if that helps. If we are not members of FARM then is District A our voice? Or should we be approaching government directly with our concerns?

I thank you again for your quick response and will get back to you on the points you’ve raised in this email once our members have had a chance to review them.

Thanks kindly,

John Milne
Acting President
Cowichan Agricultural Society and Farmers’ Institute

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Dennis Lapierre’s email to John Milne (CAS)
sent January 17, 2011

Hi John,

First the acronyms: the COABC is the Certified Organic Associations of British Columbia, which is an aggregation of organic associations in BC. Many, not all certified organic growers belong to such BC associations. The COABC speaks for them all.

FARM is an acronym for the FARM (Food and Agriculture Responsible Member) Community Council, an organization that was created about 15 or so years ago when the province chose to follow federal policy direction in trying to make agriculture more self-sufficient and globally competitive. A direct consequence for BC Farmer’s Institutes was that the province no longer paid for representatives of Institutes to meet annually at government expense and speak to their Agriculture Minister. In creating the FARM Community Council, the Institutes were organized into districts, each being identified by a letter. District “A” is one of several “chapters” or regional Farmer’s Institute groups. This is a very brief summary I just mentioned. There is no doubt more to the story than this, but, good enough for now.

FARM was supposed to develop organizationally and, be financially independent and continue to represent Farmers Institutes and other more community-oriented groups. At the same time, FARM played a role in helping to establish a new general farm organization, the BCAC (British Columbia Agriculture Council), succeeding a previous general farm organization, the BC Federation of Agriculture, which imploded for reasons I still don’t fully understand, but infighting, I’m told, had a lot to do with it.

The FARM Community Council never did develop much strength, financially or organizationally.

When the BCAC was formed, a seat was created for the Community Agriculture sector, essentially a seat for non-commodity specific and other types of farms. Sort of a catch-all, but which included the FARM Community Council and the COABC.

The BCAC is a member-supported, non-profit organization. It’s purpose is to advocate for agriculture and it does so in patient and diplomatic way and by cultivating relationships with governmental authorities. Using such an approach results in the BCAC being the “go-to” organization for feedback on proposed legislative changes. So, the relationship is mutually beneficial. There are lots of organizations like this in democratic countries. We are not unique.

OK. Now on to who I speak for.

Appreciating that who has put me in the role I occupy are the two organizations who are BCAC members, each of whom pays an annual membership fee, as do all the member organizations, that is who I represent, strictly speaking. I represent those who have put me on the BCAC Board of Directors and who pay their dues to keep this seat on the Board. But, because farmers and farming is the way it is in BC, I tend to seek greater clarity about what the “community agriculture” sentiment is by encouraging and listening to feedback from anyone involved in that sector who cares to say something.

Additionally, a reason I seek greater clarity in what the community ag sentiment is, is that the BCAC needs to hear that voice. Agriculture in BC, well really, everywhere, is no longer just about commercial agriculture, supply-chain approaches, global trade, being strictly market-oriented and the like. There is a growing demand and respect for local production.

In BC, this is clearly the case, for the simple reason that there are many, many small farms in BC and if agriculture is going to be relevant in BC, and profitable, the real nature of the BC farm community has to be understood. Big and small both need to co-exist.

OK. Enough of my political views and my motivation. Back to the details.

District A, of which you are a member has not paid membership dues to the FARM Community Council for years, I’m told, and so its claim to be a member of FARM is questionable. So, while I am interested in the sentiment of that group, the Island Farmer’s Alliance and the rest, I am not answerable to them nor obliged to do more than I do with the sentiments I hear.

Nothing the BCAC does prevents any individual farm organization from speaking directly to any local, provincial or federal authority. The BC Cattlemen’s Association, for example, often speaks directly to the province, with effect. But, it is also a member of the BCAC and benefits from having the backing of its entire membership on matters of concern common to all BC farmers. Similarly, all BC farmers benefit from having the clout of the BC Cattlemen’s Association behind it when the BCAC seeks to influence government policy direction.

Sadly, and as it now stands, unless farmers in your neck of the woods belong commodity organizations, their only option is to speak individually.

You have an option. If District A continues to choose not to support FARM, you can as an individual Farmer’s Institute.

I hope this information has been helpful. Feel free to ask more question, if you like.

regards,
Dennis

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Re: consultation survey

A Clearwater, B.C. farmer noticed that the online consultation survey had closed as early as 10:15pm on Saturday, January 22, 2011. The survey website had stated that: “Comments will be accepted through the online survey available on this web page until midnight, January 23, 2011.” CAS confirmed that the survey was no longer available online as of 10am on Sunday, January 23, 2011:

The government then extended the survey until midnight on January 30, 2011.

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Response from the Ministry of Agriculture
received by email January 28, 2011

Dear Mr. Milne,

Below is Assistant Deputy Minister Kislock’s response to your January 13th letter. As the response is time-sensitive, the response is being sent via e-mail.

Thank you,
Solveig McLaren
Correspondence Coordinator
Office of the Assistant Deputy Ministers

* * *

John Milne
Acting President
Cowichan Agricultural Society
5855 Clements St
Duncan BC V9L 3W2

Dear Mr. Milne:

Thank you for your letter dated January 13, 2011 which was cc’d to the Honourable Ben Stewart, Minister of Agriculture regarding the Animal Health Consultation. As Assistant Deputy Minister of Agriculture Science and Policy, I am pleased to respond.

To ensure that British Columbia can effectively manage and control the spread of animal diseases, the Ministry of Agriculture is conducting a review of key provincial animal health legislation, regulation and policy. During September and October, Ministry staff met with all major agriculture and animal health organizations to discuss the review and agreed it was timely. The Ministry then initiated a public, web-based consultation process, guided by a discussion paper. The consultation period was to end on January 23, 2011; however, this date has now been extended to midnight, January 31, 2011.

The consultation date was revised to ensure input from individuals who had asked for an extension. If you feel the web-based process does not fulfill your needs, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Paul Kitching, DVM, Director and Chief Veterinary Officer of the Provincial Animal Health Laboratory, or myself, to discuss your input. Dr. Kitching may be contacted by e-mail at Paul.Kitching@gov.bc.ca and by telephone at 1-800-661-9903. My contact information is Lindsay.Kislock@gov.bc.ca and my telephone is 250-356-1816.

Thank you for taking the time to write and share your concerns.
Lindsay Kislock
Assistant Deputy Minister
Agriculture Policy and Science Division
pc: Dr. Paul Kitching, DVM

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Public Meeting with Paul Kitching
held February 25, 2011

CAS hosted a public meeting with Paul Kitching, DVM, Director and Chief Veterinary Officer of the Provincial Animal Health Laboratory on Friday, February 25, 2011 at 6:30pm at the Cobble Hill Farmers’ Institute Hall for anyone interested in attending.

The minutes will be posted when available.

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