Abbotsford mayor refutes UBC proposal to remove Abbotsford farmland and restore Sumas Lake
ABBOTSFORD — After a UBC study was released this week calling for Sumas Prairie farmland to be purchased as a means of facilitating the restoration of Sumas Lake into its natural state, Abbotsford Mayor Ross Siemens says the suggested proposal from UBC scientists would eliminate the most productive agriculture land in Canada.
According to a statement released Thursday morning (June 6) from the City of Abbotsford, Mayor Siemens says Abbotsford is Canada’s leading agricultural producer on a per-hectare basis.
“Roughly 50 per cent of the dairy, chickens, turkeys and eggs that are consumed in B.C., come from Abbotsford producers, in addition to many other very important products (such as blueberries, and a host of cold crops),” Mayor Siemens said. “A large majority of food production takes place in Sumas Prairie. Reflooding Sumas Lake would mean losing that premium agriculture land and would significantly impact our provincial food supply.”
The City of Abbotsford proudly touts its city and surrounding ag basin as the most productive agriculture land in Canada. As a matter of fact, farm gate sales in Abbotsford are nearing $1 billion annually. Its farm-based economy is also responsible for $3.83 billion in economic activity each year and supports 16,770 local jobs.
