The Liberal Fraser-Nicola MLA says the province needs to give farmers more flexibility.

Jackie Tegart says having two zones in the Agricultural Land Reserve, which was implemented in 2014, gave farmers more flexibility for how to use their land, before the NDP reverted back to one zone two months ago.

“To have this government go back to one zone, the impact could be significant for those farmers who find themselves not able to make a living just on the farm.”

The second zone gave rural farmers more flexibility specifically, “that aren’t farmland like Richmond but find themselves with lands that aren’t appropriate for farming,” she says.

“We need to support farmers. We need to support the people who are producing our food, and not put barriers in front of them.”

Tegart heard issues last week from two directors in the regional district, including Area I director Steve Rice who says issues with ALR rules are significant in the Spences Bridge area and the Fraser Canyon. She says she plans to take issues she’s heard to the province.

“I think government responds better when it’s actual issue. When I can say, ‘farmer Rice has indicated this to me, and this is his challenge,'” she says.

“And I think the other thing is, it is important that the government hear from people above Hope. That we are a different geography, we have different challenges. And it is important when they are making rules for all of British Columbia that they hear our voice.”