THURSDAY April 3, 2014 Vol. 29• No. 27 ••• $1.25 inc. G.S.T.
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Former Spirit of the West member Linda McRae continues MusicFest’s series Friday in Cumberland. page B3
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Farm changes cause concerns Erin Haluschak Record Staff
Proposed changes to the Agricultural Land Commission could have a significant impact on farming in the Comox Valley, says a local agrologist and farmer. “The (Bill 24) came out of nowhere; it was a huge surprise,” said Arzeena Hamir, who owns Amara Farm in Courtenay. Bill 24 - 2014 Agricultural Land Commission Amendment Act, which passed first reading last week, seeks to open the door to potential oil and gas development and valueadded activities. The changes would also split the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) into two zones, with Zone 1 consisting of Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland and the Okanagan, while Zone 2 would include the rest of the province, including the Interior, the North and the Kootenay region. The commission would focus more on protecting farmland in Zone 1, while more flexibility of land use would be granted in Zone 2. Additionally, the bill proposes six regional panels would be established. “One of the issues is that there was no public consultation. With the core review, it happened so quickly, we just found out and there were only about three or four people from the Comox Valley who presented to the core review panel. It’s a
huge concern … the vast majority of the general public doesn’t support this,” noted Hamir. She added Bill 24 applies to the area because of the amount of coal in the Comox Valley. “Although we would be in Zone 1, the changes to legislation mean a huge amount of the decision making is made at a regional panel — appointed by the government — and usually stacked by them in a certain way.” Hamir explained decisions could result in longterm repercussions. “Humans are unfortunately very short-term thinkers. ALR protection should really happen at arm’s length with no personal gain.” The ALC, established in 1973, is responsible for preserving and protecting the province’s farmland. It conducts land-use planning in partnership with local communities, evaluates applications for the use of land in the ALR, and encourages farming as a basis for a sustainable economy and a secure source of food. The ALR comprises five per cent of B.C’s land mass, or 4.7 million hectares. Those who support the bill say it could allow farmers to broaden their businesses. “What the government has proposed may allow ranchers to diversify their operations and increase ... see FARMING ■ A2
LOCAL SINGERSONGWRITER Helen Austin holds the Juno Award for Children’s Album of the Year (Colour It). At right, she poses with Fred Penner, who presented her with the award in Winnipeg at the annual Juno Awards on the weekend.
Second time lucky at Juno Awards
Record Staff
It’s an honour to be nominated, but Comox Valley songstress Helen Austin is now officially a winner at Canada’s version of the Grammy Awards. This past Saturday, the popular children’s singer won her first Juno Award for her album Colour It, a nominee for Children’s Album of the Year at the annual gala celebrating Canadian music, held this year in Winnipeg. “I was totally shocked when I heard my name because I was seriously rooting for another artist who I thought were so hard-working and
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fun,” said Austin. “I was glad that I remembered to thank everyone that I wanted to thank in my speech, including the Comox Valley … and my husband and kids, of course. It’s a very nervewracking experience.” Last year, Austin was nominated for her previous album Always Be A Unicorn in the same category. “Waking up the next day was great … just to remember that I had won,” she said of her first Juno. (It was a) very relaxing feeling after all the buildup,” she added. Before turning her sights on songwriting, Austin, who moved to the Comox Valley in 2002 from the U.K.,
was a regular headliner on the British comedy circuit. In addition to performing and MCing at Vancouver Island MusicFest, Austin also scooped up the Session II Grand Prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest in the children’s category for the single Colour It. “I can’t believe that I won the John Lennon Songwriting Grand Prize again. This time it is nice to share the prize with my Big Little Lions band member, Paul Otten. It was Colour It that started our collaboration. “Winning is way more fun than not winning.”
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