A new Farmers Information Service office has opened in Fort St. John, which the province says will help Peace region farmers and landowners navigate their interactions with the oil and gas industry.
The agriculture ministry says the service "provides information at no charge to help landowners with questions or challenges they experience with oil and gas development, and to help them access opportunities that come from such development."
"The objective is a positive outcome for all parties involved," the ministry stated in a Dec. 15 information bulletin.
Farmers and landowners can receive assistance with:
- Understanding the regulatory aspects of the oil and gas industry
- Their rights as landowners when working with oil and gas companies
- Support to prepare for meetings with energy companies
- Referrals to professional services when appropriate
The service will be led by Maria Reschke, who has worked directly with landowners and rightsholders affected by oil and gas activity in the region for the past seven years.
"She is well versed with the challenges rural landowners can face when working with the industry," the ministry noted.
The FIS office will be housed in Fort St. John, and is developing both web resources and plans for in-person meetings that follow COVID-19 protocols to assist land owners in different communities in the region, the ministry said.
The service can be reached by phone at 250-329-4686 or by email at [email protected].
The service is jointly funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries; the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation; the Peace River Regional District; and the BC Oil and Gas Commission.
Similar services were provided in the Peace from 2010 to 2019 through the Farmers Advocacy Office, the ministry said.
