B.C. cannabis farmers say provincial wildfire relief not an even playing field

B.C. craft cannabis growers say provincial wildfire recovery support for businesses isn’t created equal, noting they aren’t recognized and supported like B.C.’s other agriculture sectors.

Tara Kirkpatrick, president of the BC Craft Farmers Co-op, says the members whose crops or infrastructure burned in this year’s wildfires or whose farms were evacuated due to flames haven’t been able to access any governmental help.

“It seems like all the agriculture industries, whether you’re the wineries or the crop growing the vegetables, they always get included in relief and help, especially with the wildfires, that sort of thing, but the cannabis industry seems to be just kind of lost in the shuffle,” she told CityNews, noting Cannabis Farmers Coop members pay taxes just like the other growers.

She says the situation is made worse because most insurance companies won’t cover cannabis businesses.

“You don’t get crop insurance. We’re not like the farmers that got the hay crops and the canola crops and things like that — they’re blanketed, they are able to get crop insurance, unlike the cannabis industry. The insurance companies just don’t even want to touch you,” Kirkpatrick explained.

However, the B.C. government says this comes down to the federal government. In a statement, the province says the decision about who can get agricultural support is made by the Canadian government in partnership with the provinces.

Cannabis growers are not on that list.

“Licensed cannabis production is currently not eligible for AgriStability, or Agri-Insurance programming in response to damage or profit-loss caused by wildfires, as the criteria for these programs are determined at the Federal level in partnership with Provinces and Territories,” a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture reads.

“The medicinal, personal-use production of cannabis is not eligible for any Ministry programming or services.”

It says it is continuing to review cannabis producers’ eligibility for certain programs, adding, “Federally licensed and commercial cannabis production is eligible for most, but not all programs and services offered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.”

This year’s wildfire situation isn’t unlike what happened with flooding in past years, Kirkpatrick says. She points out, in those circumstances, the province also ponied up help for food and wine producers but not cannabis growers, even though she says they too lost their product that contributes to B.C.’s bottom line and tax coffers.

She says legal, licenced B.C. cannabis growers just want the same treatment as other agriculture businesses that contribute to the overall economy.

“We’ve got a lot of our members that have been either burned down or have been evacuated, so therefore their facilities are lost or the crops are lost. Processors that package the product, again, they’re just being lost. And we get no relief and no help and no funding,” she said.

Related articles: 

• ‘Show must go on’: Okanagan fruit harvest continues during fires and smoke

• B.C. launches feed program to support famers, producers during drought

• B.C. seeing worst wildfire season on record, farmers feel the effects

Meanwhile, the solicitor general’s office says governments’ main priority remains safety and emergency response.

“Currently, the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) or the BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) do not have any specific supports in place to support cannabis producers or wineries who have been impacted by wildfires,” an email from the solicitor general’s office reads.

It adds the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation has teams working with all businesses in B.C. affected by wildfires, noting cannabis producers are “also eligible for several programs to support the industry through the Ministry of Agriculture.”

“As we begin to move into recovery, we will continue to work closely with the small-business community, local officials, and the federal government to support people and businesses through this incredibly challenging time,” the email continues.