'No better than a peasant': Labrador farmer frustrated by provincial regulations

Frank Pye is frustrated after 30 years of fighting to reform farming regulations in Labrador.

He and his wife Joyce Pye founded Grand River Farm in 1987 as a retirement project, and have worked tirelessly to provide fresh, local produce in a region that relies heavily on food being brought in.

Joyce and I are no better than a peasant on somebody's manor right back in the Middle Ages.- Frank Pye

He says his calls for change have so far gone unanswered, and now it's more urgent than ever.

Pye is seriously ill with cancer. He worries his wife won't be able to keep the farm going on her own as a widow, and without the 80 acres of leased land being worked, he saidit will deteriorate so quickly that no one will want it after it's grown over with weeds and alders.

• Future uncertain for Frank and Joyce Pye, couple behind Grand River Farm

• Local foods prepared by top chefs get rave reviews in Labrador

Pye said the government declares the land "non-compliant" three years after it hasn't been cultivated, and so can take it back, giving the lease to another farmer.

"Joyce and I are no better than a peasant on somebody's manor right back in the Middle Ages. The lords of the day, and now it's the government of the day, own the land, not the farmer, " he said in a CBCLabrador Morning interview.

Pye believes the dilemma can be solved by granting land to farmers in Labrador.

"I have no doubt whatsoever, if my 30 years work was respected, and my widow was given a grant, this farm would be valuable. Somebody would want it."

Access to granted land

Pye argues that farmers on the island portion of the province have access to land that was granted to them prior to 1977 when the province changed its agricultural policy.

That's granted land theybuild their farm infrastructure such asbarns on; land that's been passed down through the generations.

Pye saidgranted land is much sought after by farmers in Atlantic Canada who are fighting for a piece of the agricultural market.

In 1977, the province passed a law to protect agricultural land on the island from being sold off for development. Going forward, that meant agricultural lands would only be available through a lease agreement with the province.

This is where Pye believes Labrador was left out since there were never any granted lands that were viable for farming in Labrador.

He saidanyone wanting to start an operation was forced into using leased land.

"Over that 30 years, I have had arguments, discussions, debates, conversations, trying to argue the point that Labrador was an exceptional situation because nobody can start a farm that's not going to be taken away from them, or their family, at the end of the day."

Labrador exception

Pye is asking the Department of Fisheries and Land Resources to recognize Labrador was in an exceptional position, given that there were no granted lands torun a farm on.

He believes the regulation needs to change based on this Labrador exception.

"We are continuing to work with thePyesto see a quick resolution that meets their needs within the agriculture leasing policy, which has been effective in keeping existing agriculture leases available for agriculture use," the department wrote in anemail.

We want to see this land continue to be used. It's productive. They've poured a lot into it.- MHAPerry Trimper

Theemailexplainedthat a farmer is able to assign or transfer a lease to another party with a suitable farm business plan.

Upper Lake Melville MHAPerry Trimper saidhe's prepared to work on behalf of farmers to see if there's a way forward on the granted land versus leased land issue, although he admits it's not going to happen overnight.

Meantime, he says there are groups that are taking at look at the Pyes' farm.

"We want to see this land continue to be used. It's productive. They've poured a lot into it, we know it's a great investment on their part, and we'll work with them to find a successful tenant."

Still hoping regulations will change

But Pye believes few people are taking upthe province's calls for proposals to farm in central Labrador, describing agriculture as "practically dead" in the area.

He asks who's seriously going to go into farming when they know what the regulation is, and that they will lose everything they put into it at the end of the day.

Pye feels he is running out of time to see the 1977 regulation changed.

"Now, I come to the end of my days, it hasn't been changed. After what I've put in for agriculture in this part of the province, I'd like to see that happen before I'm buried."