For the past three years Frank Leonard has lived with a suitcase next to his bed.

In that time heB次元官网网址檚 acted as chair of the and witnessed pockets of B.C. few people have, meeting face to face with farmers across the province. That role ended last week and the Liberal-appointed Leonard has now been replaced with , the latter having chaired PophamB次元官网网址檚 ALR review committee since January.

During his time with ALC Leonard commuted weekly to the Lower Mainland. Leonard also acted as CEO for the second half of 2015 until current CEO Kim Grout officially started. The commute and the accompanying travel were something Leonard had to get used to.

B次元官网网址淚t was amazing how a routine set in,B次元官网网址� said Leonard, who was mayor of Saanich from 1996 to 2014.

B次元官网网址淚 never totally unpacked. You havenB次元官网网址檛 seen a region until you turn off the highway and drive 50 miles into Peace River or the Kootenays.B次元官网网址�

Leonard now returns to free agent status, though heB次元官网网址檒l continue his part time roles as a course instructor of at the University of Victoria, as chair of Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities, as a board director for Coast Capital Credit Union and as a consultant for municipal counsellor training.

And no, Leonard is not considering a return to local politics ahead of the 2018 general election. However, he does return with plenty of insight into some of the upcoming election issues and how they affect Saanich, such as permitting marijuana growth on ALR land and how to ease the pressure on ALR land in B.C. by protecting industrial land.

As ALC chair Leonard became aware of a growing concern around local pot farms.

One of the reasons heB次元官网网址檚 seen is that the plants would be grown indoors, and because agriculture isnB次元官网网址檛 as common in Greater Victoria and the Saanich Peninsula as locals might think it is, there seems to be a misconception that a cement building doesnB次元官网网址檛 belong on ALR land.

B次元官网网址淚n Saanich thereB次元官网网址檚 part-time farming but not a lot of people doing it for a full-time living, thereB次元官网网址檚 not that many Galeys left,B次元官网网址� Leonard said. B次元官网网址淚n this market, people just [envision] a concrete building on ALR land [as rare] but thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of concrete floors and buildings on ALR land in B.C., for flowers, poultry, and more, so to single out marijuana as a plant and to try and ban it sets dangerous other precedents for the ALR.B次元官网网址�

The topic is one that Lana PophamB次元官网网址檚 ALR review group and the B.C. government will need to deal with in a holistic way, Leonard said, so as not to create unintended problems.

The other issue that follows Leonard home to Saanich is the encroachment of industrial and residential uses onto ALR land. In LeonardB次元官网网址檚 eyes the housing market is pressuring urban industrial properties, in which case trades and industry turn their eyes to available ALR lands.

One of LeonardB次元官网网址檚 last decisions was to turn down an application to rezone a large batch of farmland in Abbotsford for industrial.

In the rejuvenated City of Port Moody, thereB次元官网网址檚 a proposal to redevelop the 34-acre Flavelle sawmill site into the Flavelle Oceanfront Development, a mega-residential project. The land is on the water and has key industrial opportunity. Offer that industrial property to the trades industry and you relieve additional pressure on the already-controversial Lower Mainland ALR properties, the likes of which are threatened by residential or, at the very least, are left as uncultivated farms to house mega-mansions ().

B次元官网网址滻B次元官网网址檝e been discussing it with a couple of mayors in the Lower Mainland and was in the process of drafting a letter for the mayor and council of Port Moody,B次元官网网址� Leonard said. B次元官网网址淸ALR] canB次元官网网址檛 withstand that type of pressure. I understand that the ALC staff will make [Jennifer Dyson] aware of the letter and that sheB次元官网网址檒l carry it on.B次元官网网址�

In the meantime Leonard is happy to have continued his role in serving the public, 18 years as mayor, 10 as a Saanich councillor and three with the ALC.

B次元官网网址淚 find it fulfilling and if IB次元官网网址檓 lucky IB次元官网网址檒l still find something that lets me be involved publicly again.B次元官网网址�

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