Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: November 28, 2009 12:00 PM Vernon-Monashee’s MLA is being urged to break party ranks and support changes to meat processing regulations. The NDP have introduced a bill in the Legislature that would allow farmers to sell meat directly from their property to local customers. Currently, all meat must be processed through approved facilities. “I hope our MLA will look favourably upon this as an option,” said Buffy Baumbrough, a North Okanagan Regional District alternate director. “That (farm gate sales) is a solution put forward by the regional district and it’s a model that exists in other countries.”
Director Rick Fairbairn says the current rules are costly for small farmers to access processing, and both processors and producers have closed. “We need to allow agriculture to survive in the rural communities. They have stifled free-enterprise,” he said. Support from the bill is also coming from Wendy Aasen, with the North Okanagan Food Action Coalition. “Any effort to revisit this legislation and make it more flexible for small-scale and specialty producers is a step in the right direction,” she said. “I think what is needed is a more flexible inspection that facilitates on-farm processing and direct sales for non-retailed meat.” Aasen is encouraging people to contact local Liberal MLA Eric Foster and demand that he support the NDP bill. “In my personal opinion, even if the bill as it reads isn’t acceptable to the Liberals, perhaps they could provide one of their own,” she said.
Foster won’t speculate on whether he will back the bill. “I haven’t seen it yet. There could be a lot of things in it beyond farm gate sales,” he said. Foster also won’t say if he believes farm gate sales should be allowed in the 
province. “There needs to be some way to assure producers they can sell their product whether it’s through farm gate sales or another mechanism,” he said. Foster insists he is dedicated to finding solutions over the concerns about meat processing. “It’s the thing I’ve spent the most time on since I got here (Victoria). There are safety concerns about food but at the same time, there is a concern for small producers.”
The bill was introduced by Nicholas Simons, MLA for Powell River-Sunshine Coast. “Even as increasing numbers of British Columbians are looking for local food choices, the centuries-old tradition of the family farm is at risk,” he said in a press release. “I hope that MLAs from both sides of the House can come together to support local food and B.C. farmers by backing this bill.”
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Morning Star Editorial: Foster must represent public
Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster is correct for taking a cautious approach when it comes to a proposed bill regarding meat processing regulations. Obviously he has to read the document and consider its potential implications before saying yay or nay to it. After all, there may be parts of the bill that either don’t help farmers or consumers, or don’t put enough emphasis on public safety. However, we would hope that Foster will seriously consider the proposal and simply not ignore it because the bill is authored by a member of the NDP caucus. Because if that were to occur, it would just reinforce a public perception that MLAs are there to represent the interests of themselves and their party and not the residents of their constituency. Turning this into a partisan game would be unfortunate as meat processing has been an issue of considerable concern for the people of the North Okanagan.
And the reason it is so important is so many people are increasingly concerned about where their food comes from and the potential impact the traditional food system (trucking items for great distances) is having on the environment. The government’s changes in meat regulations have also made it extremely difficult for small processors and producers to operate, and that has had serious economic consequences in the region. Foster is encouraged to look at the content of the proposed bill so he can determine whether he supports it or not. But his final decision should be based on what’s good for his constituents and not because it may go against his own party.
A raucous B.C. legislature Wednesday focused on a government minister who couldn't provide answers about a security breach. (B.C. Electronic Hansard)
