British Columbia has some of the most fertile land in all of Canada, but unfortunately it’s in the same area that people want to build houses/condos on. The Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) was created in the 1970s to protect this land, and to recognize its importance for agricultural purposes. With climate change causing droughts and other extreme weather events in areas that currently grow much of our food (such as California), and political trade disputes suggesting its important to not rely entirely on imported fruits and vegetables, we need to protect this fertile land now more than ever. 

Mayor Nicole Read, developers have already cut down most of Maple Ridge’s forests to make way for housing; please don’t let us lose any of the ALR. It’s important; we need it; we like that it exists; and we want it to stay that way.