**FINANCIAL SUPPORT NOT NECESSARY -  THE DONATION REQUEST AT THE END IS TO SUPPORT CHANGE.ORG & YOUR SIGNATURE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH**

Click here for the recent CTV News Story (BDF in battle with Govt)

We need your help to reach the Honourable Minister Ralston to overturn a decision made by the Ministry of Forests and influenced by misguidance from the city of Abbotsford.

Black Diamond Farm is a family-run business that’s mission is to create a mentally safe haven for children to help manage whatever stress is impacting them. The farm has become what it is today because the community asked for it. Not only does the farm focus on helping kid's strengthen their emotional well-being through the power of animals, but it also rescues animals in many different fashions while providing an opportunity for local youths to work in leadership roles to help accomplish this.

Click here for the previous CTV News Story of BDF Saving a Rescue Horse from the SPCA

With the complications of inflation, Black Diamond Farm has needed to increase its farmland to help keep its business operating. Following the previous direction of the city of Abbotsford and working under its rights under the Right to Farm Act, Black Diamond Farm finished clearing its land and drainage to acquire the rest of its acreage for pasture. During the progress of the work, the city of Abbotsford attended the property to view the work, but did not mention any issues or concerns. Instead of asking for the project to be stopped (paused) to discuss the matter, nothing was shared until the project was completed and the city reported their concerns to the Ministry of Forests. The issue could have been rectified during this time.

Although, the city has admitted their misdirection in the past and more recently, failing to stop the project so that it could have been finished meeting everyone's needs, the Ministry of Forests is enforcing directives that will take away a lot of our farmland (10%). The impactful part of their directive is not consistent with provincial law and not enforced to other farms, but is being on ours. Any farmland, more now than ever, is incredibly important for farms to stay afloat.

There is no arguing that we need a government that is looking after our environment, but there needs to be recognition when mistakes are made and misdirection impedes small businesses and farms like Black Diamond Farm. Additionally, the now-completed work is consistent with the work the province wants AND allows us to keep our farmland. 

The BC Premier has promised the people of BC, and mandated the NDP government through the Minister of Agriculture to support farmer, ranchers...to ensure food security by establishing policies to use our agricultural land wisely. The Premier has stated that it is imperative for the government to look out for farmers the way farmers look out for their communities; that the provincial commitment to food and the people who produce it has never been more important. 

This is echoed by the Minister of Forests, Bruce Ralston where he promises a sustainable future for communities, Indigenous People and companies.

When one level of government makes mistakes, people, businesses and farmers should not be the ones paying the price. Especially when the matter is due to an ongoing project (that can and should be "grandfathered") and an addition of approximately 100' of pipe. The government has chosen wanting 250' of pipe removed over the sustainability of a local farm and business that has a massive impact on its community. 

We ask that you sign our petition to have Minister Ralston recognize the impact of this directive on our farm, how the situation became what it has with the previous mistakes and "grandfather" all work as being apart of the same drainage project from several years ago to allow Black Diamond Farm to survive in these trying times. This is possible without there being repercussions of a precedent-setting due to the timing of the project.

Thank you for your support.