Tribune
WEEKEND Friday MAY 11, 2012
bcclassified.com
VOL. 23 NO. 19
REACHING 10,675 HOMES WEEKLY
Adorable and adoptable
Walk for Harmony includes delicious lunch................Page A25
Back-Saver Garden Sprayer Designed for less bending. 16” flexible wand with adjustable tip. Built-in measuring cup and easy to read measurements. 2 ga. capacity.
19
$ Save 42%
97 each
reg. $34.99
Sale Ends May 19, 2012
250A S. 6TH AVE. (off Mackenzie) Williams Lake
250-392-4232 INSERTS Safeway Canadian Tire London Drugs Save On Foods Wholesale Club WL Plywood M&M Meats Laketown Furnishings Princess Auto *Brand Source *JYSK *Ashley’s Furniture
*Rona *Zellers *Walmart *Source by Circuit City *Shoppers Drug Mart *The Brick *Sears *Home Hardware *Designated areas only
Carmen Unrau and her son Connor visited critters at the Williams Lake B.C. SPCA Branch open house last Saturday. Carson is one of more than half a dozen dogs hoping to be adopted. Although he barked timidly at first, he quieted down to be greeted by his visitors. Monica Lamb-Yorski photo
‘Negligible progress’ to protect farmland Jeff Nagel Black Press Little to no action has been taken in the year since B.C.’s auditor general red-flagged a series of big holes in the Agricultural Land Commission’s ability to protect farmland. Auditor General John Doyle’s original report in the fall of 2010 contained nine recommendations, some of them urging the ALC to fix inaccurate maps of Agricultural Land Reserve boundaries and tighten enforce-
ment against those who degrade farmland. The commission’s budget has been cut 30 per cent since 2002 and the audit had found the agency is underfunded and understaffed to carry out much of its duties. But in a new follow-up report, Doyle sees inaction over the past year. Nothing has been done with five recommendations and the rest are only partly implemented. “I am disappointed that the ALC has made negligible prog-
ress,” he said in the report. The ALC tabled a new strategic vision for the future last November but the proposed new directions are stalled in Victoria because the provincial government has yet to make any decisions. On all nine of the original recommendations, Doyle’s report says the ALC is “awaiting direction from government.” The commission is seeking increased funding for several initiatives. The future food-growing pro-
So nice to come home to. Call today to schedule a personal visit 250.305.1131 williamslakeseniorsvillage.com
ductivity of the ALR continues to be damaged by illegal activity such as the dumping of construction material and tainted fill on farmland. Doyle previously found the ALC too often gives violators written or verbal warnings instead of issuing orders or fines because it can’t afford to defend tougher measures if they’re challenged in court. The Lower Mainland has lost eight per cent of its ALR land since the reserve was created in 1973.