Delta's Agriculture Advisory Committee recently agreed to request city council direct staff to obtain information from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food regarding the impacts of greenhouse lighting on wildlife and any plans to update the current regulations.
The committee also discussed with city development staff correspondence from Delta South MLA Ian Paton on the issue, and were told by a ministry representative that the topic had been discussed within the ministry and an update would be coming once additional information is available.
Staff also noted a Delta bylaw had previously been drafted that proposed regulations for greenhouses were not approved by the province. Paton, the Conservative agriculture critic, earlier this year wrote to council about concerns regarding light pollution originating from greenhouse operations in Ladner, when the lighting was very prevalent.
"Despite this recognition, there remain no enforceable, greenhouse-specific light pollution regulations in Delta, nor elsewhere in Metro Vancouver. This stands in contrast to jurisdictions in Ontario - such as Leamington - where curtain-closure bylaws and other lighting controls are standard practice in greenhouse-growing communities," wrote Paton.
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