BRITISH COLUMBIA

File: 0280-30 Ref: 177216

FE 142013 Karen Goodings Chair Peace River Regional District P0 Box 810 1981 Alaska Ave Dawson Creek BC V1G 4H8

Dear Ms. Goodings:

Thank you for your recent letter regarding the Farmers Advocacy Office (FAQ).

The Ministry of Agriculture recognizes the important and proactive steps the FAQ takes to enable landowners and industrial land users to work together to resolve issues or conflicts regarding industrial and agricultural activities. The Ministry of Agriculture supports the continued operation of the FAQ.

Stable funding is critical for the FAQ to be able to function and be successful with independence and credibility. Towards this end the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Natural Gas has announced the continued Provincial commitment for funding of the FAQ into 2013-14. Kerry Clark, Regional Agrologist based in Dawson Creek, will continue as our primary Ministry of Agriculture contact person for the FAQ and in his role with the management committee.

Thank you for writing.

Sincerely,

Norm Letmck Minister pc: Honourable Minister of Energy, Mines and Natural Gas Kerry Clark, Regional Agrologist Ministry of Agriculture

MinistryofAgriculture Officeofthe Minister MailingAddress: Telephone:250387-1023 P0 Box9043StnProvGovt Facsimile: 250387-1522 VictodaBC V8W9E2 WebAddress:http://gov.bc.ca/agii/ BRITISH COLuMBIA

FEB142013 Ref. 74216 Ms. Karen Goodings Chair Peace River Regional District POBox8lO Dawson Creek, BC V1G 4H8

Dear Ms. Goodings:

Thank you for your November 27, 2012 letter regarding the Farmers Advocacy Office (FAO) and the three resolutions recently passed by the Peace River Regional District (PRRD) Board.

The Province recognizes the value that an independent information resource has for landowners in northeast British Columbia when it involves the development of petroleum and natural gas resources.

The Natural Gas Strategy outlines actions to assist in the Province’s plan to continue to grow the natural gas industry over the next 10 years. One of the key action items is to work with communities and stakeholders to develop a “made in B.C. approach” to local engagement. The FAO definitely fits with this action item.

As you are aware, the Provincial government is making a funding commitment of $100,000 for the 2013/14 fiscal year to continue this important initiative. I appreciate the partnership between the EMNG, the Ministry of Agriculture and the PRRD in delivering the service offered by the FAO. The Province recognizes the importance of a stable funding model for the FAO to support certainty for its clients and enable cost-effective service delivery. The EMNG will work to secure ongoing funding through 2017 to match the commitment made by the PRRD. This will be subject to funding being available in the annual budgets.

Staff will work with representatives of the PRRD on how the independent information resource can meet the needs of landowners in the northeast.

Should you wish to discuss the funding commitment, please contact Mr. Garth Thoroughgood, Acting Executive Director, Petroleum and Natural Gas Titles Branch, at 250-952-6382 or Garth.Thoroughgood(gov.bc.ca.

Ministry of Office of the Minister Mailing Address: Energy, Mines and Natural Gas P0 Box 9060, Stn Prov Govt and Deputy Premier Victoria, BC V8W 9E2

Telephone: 250 387-5896 Facsimile: 250 356-2965 -2-

Thank you, again, for writing.

Sincerely yours,

Rich Coleman Minister and Deputy Premier pc: Honourable Minister of Agriculture

Mr. Pat Pimm, MLA

Mr. , MLA Peace River South

Mr. Garth Thoroughgood Acting Executive Director Petroleum and Natural Gas Titles Branch Oil and Gas Division Ministry of Energy, Mines and Natural Gas

PEACE RIVER REGIONAL DISTRICT

Office of the Chair

November 27, 2012 Via Email

The Honourable Rich Coleman The Honourable Norm Letnick Minister of Energy, Mines and Natural Gas Minister of Agriculture [email protected] [email protected]

Dear Mr. Coleman and Mr. Letnick:

Re: Independent Land Information and Advocacy Office (Farmers’ Advocate)

The Peace River Regional District received the ‘Independent Land Information and Advocacy Office (Farmers’ Advocate) Review 2012’ at its November 22 Board meeting. The Regional District is very pleased with the intent of the Farmers’ Advocacy Office service, believes strongly that there is a need for such a service, and that the service should continue.

As a result the Regional District Board passed the following three resolutions:

1. That the Regional Board commit to continued partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Energy, Mines and Natural Gas to deliver the Farmers’ Advocacy Office service and to encourage both of these Ministries to do the same.

2. That the Regional Board include in the 2013 budget deliberations, $100,000.00 matching partnership funding; and

3. That the Regional Board offer to work with the Province to continue the Independent Land Information & Advocate Office service over the next five years (2013-2017).

The Regional District is committed to the Farmers’ Advocacy service and offers to continue to be a participating partner under the 2009 Memorandum of Understanding in the delivery of the service, the administration of the service, and the funding to deliver the service.

While the Regional District believes that the Provincial Government is primarily responsible for the surface rights verses sub-surface rights interaction as a result of selling sub-surface resources to industrial developers below private titled lands, it is the responsible response to provide an independent information resource that industry and individuals can go to get factual information with regard to rights, negotiations and process around natural gas development, and operations.

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Independent Land Information and Advocacy Office (Farmers’ Advocate) November 27, 2012

The Regional District has committed to include in its 2013 operational budget $100,000 funding, to be used as matching funds toward the delivery of a farmers’ Advocacy Office service.

The Regional District will continue this matching funding commitment through the 2017 budget year in order to provide some certainty, stability and cost effectiveness to this very important citizen service.

The Farmers’ Advocacy Service is unique to the BC Peace region because of the vast underground natural gas reserves and the extensive agricultural activities located across the region. 40% of the Province’s Agricultural Reserve Lands are located in the Peace River Regional District and that same land covers a good portion of BC’s natural gas resource. Interaction between the two industries cannot be avoided, but we can assist both industries in understanding the competing authorities and promote the advantages to working proactively together to provide net benefit to British Columbia.

The Farmers’ Advocacy Office is a partnership initiative that needs to be continued in order to support our constituents. Please seriously consider the Regional District’s offer to continue to be a partner and supporter in continuing this valuable service.

Yours truly,

Karen Goodings, Chair Peace River Regional District cc: MLA Blair Lekstrom – Peace River South MLA Pat Pimm – Peace River North Farmers’ Advocate Management Committee

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