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Delegation of Decision Making to Local Governments
What is delegation?
Delegation is the authorization by the Agricultural Land Commission to a local government to act on its behalf to make use and subdivision decisions in the ALR under the Agricultural Land Commission Act
Section 26 of the Act provides for the Commission to delegate its powers to decide non-farm land use and subdivision applications for ALR lands to local governments.
Local governments that agree to assume these powers, through a delegation agreement, make decisions according to the purpose of the Commission, which is to preserve agricultural land and encourage and enable farming. Assuming the powers for making these types of decisions in the ALR is a choice made by local governments and negotiated with the Commission — the process is entirely voluntary.
How does it work?
When a local government expresses interest in delegation, the Commission and local government may agree to work towards a delegation agreement. A local government should consider the following in determining the scope of powers it wishes to have delegated. For example:
- Geographic areas the agreement would cover (i.e. one or several community plan areas or other areas)
- Types of uses (i.e. all non-farm use applications or specified uses such as home and homesite severance)
- Subdivisions to a minimum lot size specified in an OCP, zoning bylaw or other size as agreed.
The local government and Commission negotiate the terms of the agreement including powers to be delegated, geographic areas of application, responsibilities, monitoring, reporting, transition, enforcement, fees, training, information sharing, term, renewal and cancellation.
Once an agreement is drafted, the Commission and the local government Board or Council consider and then sign the agreement to bring delegation into effect.
More Information
See MOUs and Agreements for current delegation agreements between the Commission and local governments.
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