The OFA sent a letter to MPP John Vanthof in support of Bill 27, Protecting Agricultural Land Act, 2022 as drafted. This Bill requires that any potential rezoning of agricultural land be subject to an Agricultural Impact Assessment. We believe that provincially, the protection of Ontario’s prime agricultural areas for their long-term agricultural use must be a key objective, and Bill 27 has the potential to contribute to this.

An Agricultural Impact Assessment (AIA) is a critical tool that is used to evaluate the potential impacts of non-agricultural development on agricultural operations and the agricultural system, and recommends ways to avoid or, if avoidance is not possible, minimize and mitigate adverse impacts.