Last month, the Golden Horseshoe Food & Farming Alliance (GHFFA) offered comments to the province on the Co-ordinated Land Use Planning Review of the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, the Greenbelt Plan, the Niagara Escarpment Plan and the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan — four provincial land use plans that work together to manage growth, build complete communities, curb sprawl and protect the natural environment.
As Canada’s largest economic engine, the Greater Golden Horseshoe is one of the fastest growing regions in North America, containing some of Canada’s best farmland, valuable water resources, and world-renowned natural features. Amidst rapid urban development pressures, it is without a doubt a significant time for Ontario land use and agriculture.
As stated on Ontario Farmland Trust’s website, this is the first time all of the province’s major farm organizations, representing some 52,000 farms and 78,000 farmers, have come together to call on the provincial government to freeze urban boundaries to prevent urban sprawl and protect farmland in the Greater Golden Horseshoe.
Our comments responded to agricultural issues from a broad, regional food and agricultural system perspective, with input from the food and farming sector (with representation from the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, other agriculture-related industry associations, non-profits and others), as well as from Regional and Municipal government.
The GHFFA reviewed the province’s proposed changes to determine how they relate to agriculture in the Greater Golden Horseshoe. The GHFFA also reviewed the proposed changes in comparison to our requests in response to the recommendations of the “Planning for Health, Prosperity and Growth in the Greater Golden Horseshoe: 2015-2041”.
We commend the province on the extent of policy reform that has been implemented throughout the four Plans. However, while the GHFFA acknowledges the significant policy changes and move towards harmonization found in the proposed Plans, there are still outstanding areas of concern that need to be addressed within the Provincial Plan review.
The GHFFA has requested that the province address the following in its amendments to the Provincial Plans:
- Reduce the loss of prime agricultural land through growth management and intensification targets
- Further harmonize policy and definitions across each of the Provincial Plans
Reduce Regulatory Burdens - Build Complete Communities: strengthen growth management through intensification and density policies and targets to both protect and reduce the loss of agricultural land
- Support agriculture: the GHFFA feels that lands designated in an agricultural system should be given the same level of protection as lands designated in the natural heritage system
- Clarity must be given within the Greenbelt
- Support Agriculture in Rouge Park
- Develop sound, evidence-based guidance for Agricultural Impact Assessments (AIA) and mitigation measures
- Policies on transportation need to include reference to the use of the road system by agricultural equipment
- Protect natural heritage and water
- The proposed Provincial Plan policies should align to support the guidelines and the ‘Excess Soil Management Framework’ currently being proposed by the Province
- GHFFA supports the need for long term planning for aggregate extraction for growth and infrastructure renewal, with stronger direction and restriction in ag areas
- Continue Consultation and Public Engagement (e.g. For the AIA)
- Structural change with the Niagara Escarpment Commission / Niagara Escarpment Plan
- Public confidence in the Greenbelt must be assured for it to be an effective tool to prevent fragmentation of agricultural lands. Lands must not be allowed to be removed for development or any other purpose.
Read our full submission to the province here.