By Mark Reusser, Executive Member, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Ten years after they were introduced, Ontario’s four provincial land use plans have undergone an extensive review process. After months of consultations, an expert advisory panel released recommendations in the December 7, 2015 report, Planning for Health, Prosperity and Growth in the Greater Golden Horseshoe: 2015-2041.
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) welcomed the inclusion of farmland preservation and support for agricultural investments and our industry’s viability in the report. Recommendations in the report are based on a review of the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, the Greenbelt Plan, the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan and the Niagara Escarpment Plan. The report recommendations reflect the input OFA received from affected counties in the Greater Golden Horseshoe area.
A six-member expert advisory panel led the recent 10-year review and considered information from 17 town hall meetings and submissions made by the public, stakeholders, including OFA, and municipalities. Chaired by former federal Cabinet minister and former mayor of Toronto David Crombie, the panel provided six strategic directions and 87 recommendations about how to build communities in this fast-growing region with changing land use and housing needs, better access to services such as transportation, and better public spaces. The report recommends that the province grow the region in a responsible way by focusing on:
- Investing in transit and infrastructure
- Supporting agriculture investments and viability
- Growing the Greenbelt
- Protecting the environment and natural heritage
- Creating jobs
- Responding to climate change
The findings of the advisory panel will be reviewed by the provincial government and any proposed amendments to the plans are expected to be released for public input in early 2016.
Just as OFA participated in the recent consultations and those held more than 10 years ago when the plans were implemented, OFA will be active in reviewing the panel’s recommendations and participate in the consultation process. Farmland preservation is critical and OFA will be working diligently to ensure the recommendations on protecting farmland are practical and applied.
For more information, contact:
Mark Reusser
Executive Member
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-591-4223
Neil Currie
General Manager
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
519-821-8883