Farmers unhappy agriculture missing from B.C. election campaign

With health care, housing, and affordability dominating the B.C. election campaign, some agriculturalproducers feel their industry's concerns are have taken a back seat to issues like housing and affordability.

In 2022, agriculture contributed $2.25 billion to B.C.'s gross domestic product and employed over 31,500 people,according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Yet, topics of food security, environmental impacts on farms, and the challenges facing producers received no mention during the televised B.C. party leaders' debate earlier this month.

This lack of attention has some farmers in the province questioning whether politicians seeking their votes truly understand the industry's priorities.

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"I think farmers in Canada are, like, pretty quiet and kind of stick to our farms. I think we need to be a little bit more like some of the European farmswhere they get their tractors out and get really loud when they want to change something," said Jennay Oliver, a fruit and vegetable farmer from West Kelowna and owner of Paynter's Fruit Market.

'Let's see them out talking to the actual farmers'

The Central Okanagan has long been a B.C. Liberal / B.C. Unitedstronghold, but recent shifts in the province'spolitical landscapethat saw the party pull out of the 2024 provincial election have left Oliver uncertain about which party will best represent her interests as a farmer.

"[B.C. United leader] Kevin Falcon, when he was running ... he came to a farmers' meeting, and he he was like, 'I will be the guy that will stand for farmers.' And I was like, 'Oh, this is the guy," Oliver said.

"I would love for leaders right now to realize what a huge industryagriculture is ... Let's see them out talking to the actual farmers.."

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Although agriculture was absent from the leaders' debate, the B.C. NDP, B.C. Conservative Party and B.C. Green Party have included significant agricultural policies in their platforms.

This attention is due in part to efforts behind the scenes, says Danielle Synotte, executive director of the B.C. Agriculture Council,a representative body for farmers and ranchers across the province.

"Our board went aroundthe province in the four to six weeks prior to nowto connect with MLAs and candidates from all parties to ensure, regardless of what party forms government, that everyone is clear on what the sector priorities are," Synotte said.

Agriculture sector priorities

Those prioritiesincludethe formation of a premier's task force to develop a provincial agri-food competitiveness and growth strategy, water security, protecting farmland, and policies for extreme weather preparedness. The council is also seeking tax relief and other measures to ease the financial pressures on farmers.

"I am optimistic that through the [election]platforms, agriculture and food security is being looked at across the board by all parties, Synotte said.

Each of the three major partieshas outlined commitments to the agricultural sector, pledging to tackle water security, strengthen food production, and help farmers reach the market. However, their approaches differ significantly.

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The B.C.NDP promises to expand the extreme weather preparedness fundand supportfarmers in leasing or buyingfarmland.

The B.C. Conservative Party aims to double food production by investing in agricultural technology and eliminating barriers like the carbon tax.

Meanwhile, the B.C. Green Party promises to incentivize regenerative farming practices and implement a basic income guarantee for agricultural producers.

Increased funding for Agriculture Ministry

Despite these commitments, Synotte emphasizes the need for increased funding for the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

"B.C. isdefinitely lagging behind provinces that have a similar diversity in agriculture," Synotte said.

"A plan for an investment in our Ministry of Agriculture budget would bevery helpfulin increasing staffing to support the needs of the sector."

Water security and storage

Water security frequently arises in conversations with farmers. According to Brian Thomas, who runs a 200-head cattle ranch east of Okanagan Falls, it is the most critical issue facing ranchers today.

He urges the next provincial government to focus on expanding water storage, particularly after extreme drought in 2023that resulted in the province ordering a halt in irrigationto protect fish populations.

"If we don't have water, our ranchers don't have anything to grow to feed their cattle," Thomas said.

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Water security is also a key concern on Jennay Oliver's farm. She wantsfarmers to have priority access to the vital resource as more people move to the Okanagan.

"We want to make sure we have water," Oliver said.

"That and theRight to Farm Act is also really important, making sure that the neighbourswhoare moving here know why we're making noise late at night and early in the morning."

Farms like Oliver's are vital to the economy, not only in growing food but also in providing employment for the community in the Okanagan. She hopes that a commitment to agriculture will remain a constant, no matter which party emerges victorious in the election.