Support Local Farmers Event Oct 18th 12:00 noon
by Friends of Farmers
Where: at Moss Street Market
Why? To support one of Moss Street Market's founding members caught in
a change of policy. Farmer Mary Alice Johnson of ALM Farms has had farm
tax assessment on her property for the past 18 years. Suddenly this
year BC Assessment changed its policy and began to apply a split
assessment causing any unused portion of a farm to be taxed at a
residential rate.
After a huge public outcry
the Minister of Small Business and Revenue called a review to the tax
policy and after much pressure finally agreed to put a freeze on any
further farm assessments until the review is complete in 2009. However
he refused to apply this freeze to the first wave of farmers caught up
in this.
This applies to Saanich and a few farmers in Sooke.
This forced them to appeal their assessments and then file a second appeal before a judge. Many lost their appeals. Mary Alice is now faced with paying residential taxes on 5 acres of forest land that acts as a buffer zone to her 5 acres of intensively grown crops. A farmer cannot afford to pay residential taxes. This is one huge blow that is completely contrary to a local food movement.
Showing public support for the local farmer can influence the Minister of Small Business and Revenue to do something. The current government promised to have regular sessions to be accountable to the public. And yet the fall sitting of the legislature has been cancelled. BC Assessment is required to be fair and equitable in carrying out its policies.
What happened to Mary Alice and the others is not fair and equitable when the rest of BC has a moratorium. The Minister is able to present an order in council to change this situation and result in fair treatment.
We need public support. Turn out for the rally , sign the petition asking the Minister to act and best of all write a letter to the Minister of Small Business and Revenue at the Parliament Buildings telling him how important it is to protect our farmers and our food supply. Tell your friends.
Event Format: There will be speakers in the centre court to support this issue. Volunteers will have a petition for the public to sign. Let's see how many signatures we can get in one market.
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