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Letter: Our leaders are silent on farmland destruction

Dear Editor, I appreciate the advocacy of Michael Wolfe (Letters Sept. 1) , Michelle Li (Letters Aug. 30) and the many others working hard to save Richmond’s farmland.
Richmond News
Brodie farm
Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie has steered the City of Richmond to densifying the City Centre area while advocating for the protection of farmland. Brodie says while the port has recently renewed the farming leases at the Gilmore Farm lands, his council fears the farm will one day be used for port lands. Vancouver Sun photo.

Dear Editor,

I appreciate the advocacy of Michael Wolfe (Letters Sept. 1), Michelle Li (Letters Aug. 30) and the many others working hard to save Richmond’s farmland. 

But as Wolfe points out, where are our politicians? 

Protecting our farmland from unrelenting speculation, house overmassing and industrialization seems like a no-brainer. 

Our elected officials need to be held responsible for their actions regarding this important resource. 

I therefore urge our elected federal and provincial representatives to use this forum to inform their constituents of their thoughts and intentions regarding Richmond farmland. 

For our municipal politicians (other than Councillors Steves and Day), I would ask them to publicly explain why they rejected staff recommendations to limit house size on farmland to 5,382 square feet, consistent with ALC guidelines. 

The silence is deafening.

Kris von Schalburg

Richmond