Faced with forced relocation or possible closure within two years, Persephone Brewing Co. of Gibsons has been lobbying the B.C. government to make Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) regulations for farm-based breweries the same as those for wineries in the province. The change, which would also benefit distilleries, would enable producers on the ALR to buy grain from other B.C. farms, the same as wineries buy their grapes, in order to meet a 50 per cent “grown-here” requirement set out in the Agricultural Land Commission Act.
Persephone has enlisted the support of other brewers (at least one of them similarly threatened), grower associations, local government and the public, which see the change as a no-brainer. A petition launched by the company this month, now approaching the 3,000-signature mark, points out that B.C. wine is a $2-billion industry and contributes tens of millions in taxes and tourist dollars – and that breweries can have a similar economic impact, while putting farmland to productive use.
Put on the spot this week in the Legislature by Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons, Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick said he had invited the Persephone owners to meet with him and pontificated about the independence of the Agricultural Land Commission. Finally touching on the only relevant issue – the ALR regulations that only his government can change – Letnick said, “We did extensive consultations” and “came out with regulations that took a cautious approach.”
So what is the minister talking about when he mentions consultations?
Speaking at a committee meeting last month, Sunshine Coast Regional District chair Garry Nohr tried to get a handle on the commission’s inexplicable treatment of breweries and distilleries, in light of its stated aim to promote farming and preserve the ALR.
“The only thing that comes to mind, in my mind,” Nohr said, “is that there’s big breweries in the back rooms.”
Did Chair Nohr unwittingly hit on the solution to the riddle of Persephone? Did the beer farmers overlook one key ingredient in the brewing process – baksheesh?
In light of recent disclosures on the political fundraising front, one can only speculate.
