Readers Write.

Dear Council September 10, 2007

I have listened to and read the comments of those in support of using prime farmland for a massive sports complex and have become increasingly concerned by how people have become completely removed from how their food gets to their table. Comments like ‘It just grows hay’ show peoples’ ignorance and have prompted me to speak out

I do support recreational fields but I do not support them at the expense of a large parcel of actively used farmland. The following points should be considered when deciding whether more than 100 acres of prime agricultural land should be converted to a sports complex that has very little to do with children.

• Statistics Canada reports that the Okanagan is one of the two most threatened agricultural areas in Canada due to urban encroachment.

• About 97 % of BC’s land is considered unsuitable for agricultural purposes and a mere 3 % of our land can support agriculture. Less than 1% is designated as prime agricultural land.

• According to Smart Growth BC for every acre of land being added to the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), 2.8 acres are being removed. The BC Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) has reported that 90% of the land being added to the ALR has been in the far north of the province.

• At present BC only produces 48% (according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands) of all the food that we consume. With an expected population growth of 30 % in the next 20 years we should be seeing an increase in our agricultural land base not a decrease as we are seeing.

• In Coldstream’s OCP review it was reported that 88% of the respondents stated that they support the retention of agriculture land. Why would council disregard the majority of its residents’ views?

• It is estimated that just over a hectare of farmland is needed to produce food for 1 person for 1 year. Does Coldstream have this in reserve, taking into account predicted population growth? If it does not, how would council go about achieving this? Is Coldstream food secure? Does anyone on council know the answer to this? If they do not, perhaps it would be prudent to bring in experts on food security to look at this issue before applying to the ALC to change the status of this land or look for alternatives to this piece of prime agricultural land.

• Finally we can not predict what the unforeseen effects of climate change or the escalating price of fuel costs will be on the food supply. We need to maintain an agricultural land base to secure a sustainable, safe food supply.

Let’s preserve our children and grandchildren’s rightful legacy with careful, long-term planning and maintain an agricultural land base for them. We must help secure their ability to have a sustainable, safe food supply for their future.

Thank-you for taking the time to consider my concerns.

Karen Thoresen
7502 Giles Drive
Coldstream, B.C. V1B 1G5
Tel. 250-542-0421