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Intended Outcomes |
Associated Subject Matters |
BCAFM requested and conducted an introductory meeting (virtually) with the new Agriculture Deputy Minister to provide an overview of the BCAFM organization, farmers' market sector, key programs and initiatives along with opportunities to collaborate and invest in farmers' markets to further support overall Ministry strategies and priorities along with COVID Economic Recovery opportunities.
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Awarding, amendment or termination of any contract, grant or financial benefit by or on behalf of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Agriculture, COVID-19, Economic Development and Trade, Emergency Preparedness, Health, Non-Profit Organization, Small Business
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BCAFM submitted a formal written request for regulatory changes to the 14 day temporary operating permit regulation outlined in the Public Health Act which regulates the selling of ready to eat foods at temporary markets including farmers' markets. In conjunction, this included a request for improvements, administrative efficiencies and consistency among all health authorities who each independently administer the current policy differently across the province.
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Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation
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Agriculture, Economic Development and Trade, Health, Industry, Small Business
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BCAFM will build greater awareness and strengthen the position/role of farmers' markets as agrifood and small business incubators and seek investment to expand this role and related activities across the province as a practical solution to COVID economic recovery along with economic development generally.
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Awarding, amendment or termination of any contract, grant or financial benefit by or on behalf of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Agriculture, COVID-19, Economic Development and Trade, Employment and Training, Finances and Budgets, Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, Industry, Non-Profit Organization, Regional Development, Small Business, Tourism
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BCAFM will continue to advocate on behalf of member BC Farmers’ Markets as a key stakeholder for COVID Response & Recovery and the need to Re-localize the BC Food System. We will advocate for strong, sufficiently resourced and sustainable farmers’ markets to provide growing consumer demand for food grown and processed locally through these direct farm to plate sales channels. Advocacy will include a) Farmers' Market Operating Capacity and the need for investment in farmers' markets to strengthen their operating capacity, dedicated equipment and infrastructure and leverage this for further investment locally and federally b) BC Farmers’ Market Online: BCAFM will seek additional investment to build on and strengthen the BC Farmers’ Market Online e-commerce initiative launched in response to early days of COVID into the future to better attract and retain convenience and tech saavy market customers millennials and Gen Z consumers and c) Technology & Broadband: Provincial support for rural and remote regions especially, to address bandwidth and WiFi gaps and strengthen farmers’ markets and vendors ability to sell more directly at markets and online market stores d) That agriculture and BCAFM as a key stakeholder be invited to participate and inform activities of the BC Economic Recovery Task Force.
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Awarding, amendment or termination of any contract, grant or financial benefit by or on behalf of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Agriculture, COVID-19, Economic Development and Trade, Emergency Preparedness, Employment and Training, Finances and Budgets, Health, Industry, Information Technology, Infrastructure, Liquor Control/Alcohol, Municipal Affairs, Non-Profit Organization, Regional Development, Small Business, Telecommunications, Tourism
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BCAFM will seek a meeting with the opposition co-critics for the Ministry of Agriculture, Ian Paton and Lorna Larson, to discuss mutual goals and investment opportunities to increase local food security in response to COVID and our broader BCAFM mandate to increase access to local food and support local producers and agrifood businesses.
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Agriculture, COVID-19, Consumer Issues, Economic Development and Trade, Emergency Preparedness, Finances and Budgets, Health, Industry, Municipal Affairs, Non-Profit Organization, Regional Development, Small Business, Tourism
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Continuation of activities started in Mar/Apr and due to COVID pandemic, BCAFM requested funding support from Ministry of Agriculture to support BCAFM member farmers' markets to launch online market stores, adding an additional sales and distribution option for agrifood and artisan vendors who sell at in person farmers' markets as part of a BCAFM led BC Farmers' Markets Online initiative as an emergency response to COVID.
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Awarding, amendment or termination of any contract, grant or financial benefit by or on behalf of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Agriculture, COVID-19, Economic Development and Trade, Emergency Preparedness, Health, Non-Profit Organization, Small Business, Tourism
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Continuation of activities started in Mar/April 2020. Due to COVID pandemic and PHO/BCCDC operating restrictions, BCAFM requested relief and recovery support from Ministry of Agriculture on behalf of BCAFM member farmers' markets negatively impacted by COVID who have experienced significant decreases in operating revenues along with cost increases due to equipment, infrastructure and staffing required to modify markets and meet PHO/BCCDC guidelines for safe operations.
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Awarding, amendment or termination of any contract, grant or financial benefit by or on behalf of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Agriculture, COVID-19, Economic Development and Trade, Emergency Preparedness, Health, Non-Profit Organization, Small Business, Tourism
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Due to COVID, a selection of BCAFM member farmers' markets launched online market stores as an option for vendors who wish to sell online in addition to in person markets, including approved liquor manufacturer vendors. BCAFM communicated with Compliance and Enforcement Division of the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch to assess, clarify and ensure online liquor selling is consistent and in compliance with liquor regulations and seek marketing/webstore efficiencies.
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Agriculture, COVID-19, Economic Development and Trade, Liquor Control/Alcohol, Small Business
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Due to COVID, BCAFM requested a reinstatement of 'sampling' for vendors selling at in person farmers' markets by the PHO.
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Agriculture, COVID-19, Economic Development and Trade, Small Business
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Due to COVID, BCAFM requested a reinstatement of NON-food vendors eg; artisan vendors, and that those vendors be allowed to return to and sell at in person farmers' markets, following the original PHO directive which only allowed food vendors at in person farmers' markets.
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Agriculture, Arts and Culture, COVID-19, Economic Development and Trade, Emergency Preparedness, Small Business, Tourism
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Due to COVID, request for the agriculture sector, including BCAFM as a potential representative along with other agricultural stakeholders, to be represented on the Economic Recovery Task Force led by the Office of the Premier.
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Agriculture, COVID-19, Economic Development and Trade, Emergency Preparedness, Industry, Small Business
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In response to COVID, BCAFM is one of several signatory organizations on a collaborative open letter dated July 9th, 2020 addressed to the Office of the Premier. The letter identified priorities and a comprehensive list of collaboration, policy and investment opportunities to transform and ensure a resilient BC food system moving forward.
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Agriculture, COVID-19, Conservation, Consumer Issues, Economic Development and Trade, Emergency Preparedness, Employment and Training, Environment, Health, Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, Industry, Non-Profit Organization, Regional Development, Small Business
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In response to COVID, farmers' markets were designated essential services by the Provincial Health Officer. BCAFM will advocate that farmers' markets should be included in emergency management planning moving forward to strengthen their role in any emergency including fire, flood, food supply chain interruptions, global pandemic or other emergencies and crises that may emerge.
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Awarding, amendment or termination of any contract, grant or financial benefit by or on behalf of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Agriculture, COVID-19, Economic Development and Trade, Emergency Preparedness, Environment, Finances and Budgets, Health, Infrastructure, Municipal Affairs, Non-Profit Organization, Poverty, Regional Development, Small Business
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In response to COVID and the broader BCAFM mandate to increase access to local food sold directly by producers, advocating that Ministry of Agriculture increase on farm meat slaughter/abbatoirs availability in order to increase local meat availability to meet consumer demand and purchasing direct from local meat producers, including those selling at farmers market ie; Increase Class D meat licenses.
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Agriculture, COVID-19, Consumer Issues, Economic Development and Trade, Emergency Preparedness, Employment and Training, Environment, Health, Industry, Non-Profit Organization, Regional Development, Small Business
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