MLA Vicki Huntington continues to press for answers about the future of prime South Delta agricultural land eyed for industrial development.
During question period in the legislature this week, the Delta South independent MLA, as well as New Democrats Guy Gentner and Lana Popham, wanted to know what the government knows about a plan to remove properties from the Agricultural Land Reserve.
Huntington recently revealed that an industrial consortium is behind the optioning of 226 hectares (558 acres) of farmland for port-related uses. She said the options favour Lamington Heights Investments, a firm closely connected to the Emerson Real Estate Group, which specializes in confidential industrial land acquisition.
She said documents show option-to-purchase agreements have been signed on 11 productive farm parcels for $98 million. The parcels are adjacent to land purchased in 2009 by B.C.
Rail under its mandate to acquire port-related properties, she said.
Huntington this week said she was told by Ron Emerson that government ministers were aware of the project and supportive of the proposal to turn South Delta farmland into an intermodal yard and logistics park.
When asked how long certain ministries have known about the proposal, Huntington said Agriculture Minister Don McRae responded that Emerson has not yet applied to the Agricultural Land Commission to have lands removed. Noting the ALC is an independent organization, McRae said that he's "very confident" the commission will continue to undertake its mandate without any influence from government.
During the exchange in the legislature, Huntington said she challenged the minister to "stand up and say that he will publicly fight for the future of B.C.'s soil-based agriculture."
Gentner during the session said he's never heard such a wimpy answer from the minister.
"Mr. Emerson stated that the ALR is not subject to federal government authority, including the port. So it's clear that this Liberal insider is trying to circumvent the provincial Agricultural Land Commission and take prime land out of the Agricultural Land Reserve," said the Delta North MLA.
Gentner also put McRae on the spot by challenging him to state clearly that agriculture is a priority, and send that message to the federal government.
Answering that he won't get into hypotheticals, McRae reiterated the port has never approached him and neither has Emerson. As far as he knows, Emerson has never approached the ALC, said the minister, noting the commission has the statutory authority to protect and preserve farmland.
Popham noted Emerson said on TV last week the land is in the right place to accommodate port expansion and therefore is appropriate for exclusion from the ALR.
Huntington's research revealed that beginning in 2010, Lamington Heights Investments signed options to purchase the acreages and, with one exception, all options expire on Nov. 30, 2013.
The Emerson Real Estate Group participated in Port Metro Vancouver's Port 2050 visioning process, she said, adding the port is a federal government entity and may legally use ALR lands for non-farm uses.
Huntington said she's concerned that if Emerson's consortium is partnered with Port Metro Vancouver, there may be no need to go through the ALC because the port is immune to provincial jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, several Delta councillors criticized Huntington this week. Noting they've been aware of the options for a couple of years, they said Huntington, a former councillor, is simply trying to drum up a controversy over what's essentially old news.
Coun. Robert Campbell said the options are "worthless" and the MLA was "stirring up a hornet's nest over a big pile of nothing" because the land is not in danger of being pulled from the ALR.
Campbell said it would take major intervention by the federal government to remove the farmland from the reserve.
Council endorsed a motion by Coun. Sylvia Bishop, however, to send a letter to Victoria reiterating Delta's position that farmland should be preserved.
