A BC Liberal government will work with cattle ranchers across the province to develop a new fencing program that will protect livestock along the province’s highways and railway corridors and establish a new task force to support ranchers.
May 7, 2009
QUESNEL – A BC Liberal government will work with cattle ranchers across the province to develop a new fencing program that will protect livestock along the province’s highways and railway corridors and establish a new task force to support ranchers.
“Livestock on highways and rail corridors not only pose a serious safety threat, but cost ranchers thousands of dollars in avoidable expenses,” said Premier Gordon Campbell. “If elected, a BC Liberal government will work with the BC Cattlemen’s Association to identify priority fencing projects and develop a three-year fencing program to meet their needs. We know this will take millions of dollars in funding over the next few years but it will go a long way to support hard-working ranchers.”
The new program will build on the three-year, $9-million fencing program that expired in 2007. Through that program, approximately 600 kilometers of fencing was built. There is an estimated 700 kilometers of outstanding fencing needed along highway corridors that have been identified. Premier Campbell said a BC Liberal government will also work with cattle ranchers to identify priority projects along railway corridors. The program will be funded out of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
Premier Campbell also committed to working with the BC Cattlemen to identify and eliminate unnecessary regulatory burdens that cost ranchers’ time and money. If elected, a BC Liberal government will form a Ranching Task Force to commence discussions within 90 days to identify key regulatory hurdles and propose solutions.
“We’ve heard from Cariboo BC Liberal candidates Donna Barnett and Bruce Ernst that cattle ranchers still have to deal with a number of regulatory burdens that don’t make sense,” said Premier Campbell. “We’ve eliminated more than 150,000 regulations to date, but we know we can always do better. The Ranching Task Force will find ways to reduce regulatory burdens for ranchers that are cost effective and environmentally sound.”
