'Trying to keep every acre of farmland for the future is critical': Battle brewing over protection of Delta farmland
There’s a push to protect a large parcel of provincially-owned farmland in Delta that comes with a controversial past.
The 600-acre Brunswick Point farmland is used to grow everything from peas and corn to barley and berries.
“We had roughly 70 acres of potatoes here last year and it would produce close to 2,000 tonnes of potatoes for the local market,” explained Cory Gerrard, manager at Swenson Farms.
“The Delta soil is very fertile. It holds moisture really well and we can grow very good quality potatoes,” he explained.
The Swenson family has been farming the land since the late 1800’s.
“My wife is a Swenson,” Gerrard explained. “They’re fifth generation farmers now.”
But Swenson Farms now only leases the land they owned until 1968.
“The government came along at the time and expropriated almost 4,000 acres of farmland here in west Delta for the future building of the Roberts Bank container terminal and coal port,” explained Ian Paton, the MLA for Delta South and Liberal shadow critic for Agriculture and Food
He said when the government of the day realized not all the land was needed, most of it was offered for sale back to the original farm families.
“Most of the families took up that offer, except for 600 acres here on Brunswick Point, which was never sold back to the farm families that have been here for many generations,” Paton said.
“It’s been a very sore spot for some families out here that were never able to get their properties back.”
For the third time, Paton has introduced a private members bill asking for a covenant on the land to protect it as farmland indefinitely, even if the province sells it.
Paton said he wants to ensure the land “doesn’t get swallowed up by the massive industrial development” that’s nearby. He said food sovereignty is becoming increasingly important in B.C. as farmland continues to be lost.
Gerrard agrees.
“Obviously trying to keep every acre of farmland for the future is critical,” said Gerrard who said he’s seen many acres of Delta farmland paved over.
“As a young farmer, it’s tough to watch that.”
Paton said the land is not only valuable for farmers, but as a resting place for migratory birds and species at risk.
“This area here is famous all over the world for migrating water fowl coming down from Alaska and Russia that like to stop here, in this part of Delta and feed on left over grain, left over potatoes,” Paton said.
In nearby Surrey, farmers are fighting to protect 200 acres of federally-owned land they fear will be sold and developed as has the neighbouring properties.
That land, allowed farmers to once again plant the first potato crops in the country earlier this month.
They are awaiting a decision from B.C.’s Agricultural Land Commission on whether the land will be put in the land reserve. Farmers say they will then try and get a covenant placed on the property to protect it indefinitely.
Brunwick Point is already in the Agricultural Land Reserve. Farmers in Delta just want assurances it will stay there.
“Once it’s out, it will never be farmed again,” emphasized Gerrard.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.