Farmers shouldn’t have to pay B.C.’s carbon tax because of their important role in assuring local food security, according to Union of B.C. Municipalities delegates.

A majority of civic leaders voted Thursday to urge the province to exempt the embattled agriculture sector from the tax.

“If our local agriculture goes down, we are reliant on imports from Mexico and California, which do far more damage and create far more greenhouse gases in long-distance transportation,” said Revelstoke Coun. Antoinette Halberstadt.

The resolution, spearheaded by the Peace River regional district, drew opposition from delegates who said exemptions would water down the effect of the tax in fighting climate change.

Several speakers argued the carbon tax will encourage farmers to innovate and reduce their carbon footprint.

Allan Patton, an Okanagan-Similkameen regional district director who grows fruit trees near Oliver, said he doesn’t like the idea of exemptions either.

But he argued farmers should be paid for their role in sequestering carbon and until that happens they should be exempt from the carbon tax.

Other notable developments:

Hand-held phone ban urged

Restrictions on the use of cellphones while driving are already being prepared by the provincial government, which says it will soon introduce legislation.

But that didn’t stop civic leaders at UBCM from again endorsing a ban on hand-held cellphones.

The Duncan-led resolution passed with scattered opposition from delegates who said police can simply enforce existing laws against driving without due care and attention.

“I can’t count the number of times I feel my safety has been threatened by people on their cellphones while they’re driving,” said Victoria Coun. John Luton. “The province needs all the tools it can muster to make our roads safe.”

NDP would axe tax cut to raise transit cash

TransLink’s financial plight was on the minds of Lower Mainland mayors and councillors at UBCM.

And NDP leader Carole James tapped into that Thursday, promising to steer $150 million a year to a green fund, potentially a source of revenue for transit expansion, by eliminating a corporate tax cut for industry intended to offset the carbon tax.

“That would go a long way toward hitting the emissions reduction targets as set out in law by the government,” she said in her speech to the UBCM.

James accused the Liberals of setting climate action targets but giving TransLink no reasonable means of delivering.

“The government doesn’t trust mayors to control TransLink,” she said. “But they do want you to pay for it.”

James repeated past pledges to put elected representatives back in control of TransLink to restore democratic accountability.

Trio of mayors win golden ticket to Athens

Three B.C. mayors – Port Alberni’s Ken McRae, Queen Charlotte City’s Carol Kulesha and Lake Cowichan’s Ross Forrest will fly with Premier Gordon Campbell to Greece later this month to bring the Olympic flame to Canada.

Their names were drawn at random Friday at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention, during Premier Gordon Campbell’s address.

Vanoc CEO John Furlong promised it will be “the trip of a lifetime” when he unveiled plans for the surprise draw Thursday night.

“This is a transformational mission,” he said. “When you get to Greece and you have an opportunity to hold this torch in your hand, the impact on you will be immediate and it will never go away.”

The 2010 Winter Olympic torch will be ceremonially lit in Olympia, Greece Oct. 22 and will embark on a short relay in Greece before coming to B.C. Oct. 29.

A celebration Oct. 30 in Victoria will launch the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay, which crisscrosses the Lower Mainland in early February after being carried through every province and territory.

Give us your best: Furlong

VANOC CEO John Furlong also came to UBCM with his own cap out for help.

Civic governments around the province are full of unsung “stars” and he said he’d welcome any cities that are willing to assist in the staging of the Olympics by donating skilled staff.

Library grant cuts rankle

Grant cuts to public libraries were one source of friction between UBCM delegates and the provincial government.

Vancouver Island libraries are grappling with a 22 per cent cut in their provincial grant, or seven per cent of their combined regional budget. Local cities stump up most of the costs, with extra from fines and endowments.

Reduced library hours, cuts to programs, reduced buying for local collections are all under consideration to deal with the funding drop, said Vancouver Island Library Board chair Paul Gerrard.