Penticton, BC (Rural Roots Canada) – Farmers and ranchers forced to leave their operations during an emergency could soon face fewer hurdles getting back to care for their livestock and land.
The BC Agriculture Council (BCAC) has launched a standardized, digitally enabled Temporary Access Pass system to help local authorities and First Nations manage requests from producers who need access to areas under evacuation orders during emergencies.
The new system builds on temporary access pass processes that have existed across B.C. for years but have often varied from one jurisdiction to another, creating confusion for both emergency officials and those seeking access.
Developed with input from local authorities, First Nations, agricultural stakeholders, the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the project expands on a digital template first developed by the Township of Spallumcheen.
Christine Fraser, mayor of the Township of Spallumcheen, said the municipality recognized after previous emergency events that a more consistent approach was needed.
“During an emergency, clarity and consistency are critical,” said Fraser in a release. “In 2021, the Township of Spallumcheen recognized a need for a better way to manage temporary access during emergencies and developed an online tool for our community. We then shared that initial online tool with the BC Agricultural Council to further develop the tool along with other local authorities because we saw the value of having a standardized approach that helps streamline access for agricultural producers and others while supporting coordinated decision-making across jurisdictions.”
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The result is a suite of Word-based and ArcGIS-enabled templates that communities can adapt locally while following a common framework for managing temporary access requests.
For agricultural producers, timely access can be critical.
Farmers and ranchers often need to return to their properties to care for livestock, check crops, maintain equipment or protect essential farm infrastructure and machinery. The new system is intended to support authorized access when conditions are safe while providing emergency managers with a more consistent process for reviewing requests.
Agriculture and Food Minister Lana Popham said evacuations are especially difficult for producers who are forced to leave animals behind.
“Ranchers and farmers care deeply for their animals, and it becomes extremely stressful when they have to leave them behind during an emergency,” she said. “The Temporary Access Pass system will help producers in arranging timely access back to their property when it’s safe, so they can check on their livestock and property, and make sure their animals have the food, water and care they need.”
Danielle Synotte, executive director of BC Agriculture Council, said the project is intended to strengthen preparedness before emergencies occur rather than creating new processes during a crisis.
“This project is about delivering a useful and practical tool that can be put to use before an emergency happens, not while they’re in the middle of one,” said Synotte. “By bringing together the experience of local governments, emergency officials and the agriculture sector, we’ve made significant progress in the development of strategic systems that support preparedness, improve access to decision-making, and help ensure producers can be supported safely and efficiently when every minute counts.”
The project received financial support from the province through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.
