The Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) has always been contentious. When it was introduced by B.C.’s first NDP government in the heady days of 1973, thousands rallied against it on the lawn of the legislature, and farm leaders urged farmers to protest by not planting crops. ... The best way to make the most of ALR farmland’s economic potential is to start enforcing existing rules. Then freeze exemptions. That would immediately lower land costs for farmers. Then tax residential estate uses of farmland at residential tax rates and require new homes on ALR lands to be sited away from the centre of the property. Minister Bennett should be strengthening the ALR, not weakening it. http://www.biv.com/article/20131126/BIV0319/311269937/0/SEARCH/The-province%E2%80%99s-ALR-needs-to-be-strengthened-not-weakened