OFA has submitted a letter to Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing in support of Cargill Limited’s request for a Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO) to protect the long-term operation of the Cargill Sarnia Export Grain Terminal. The terminal is critical to provincial agri-food infrastructure, handling approximately 35% of Ontario’s export grain capacity and supporting both grain exports and fertilizer distribution across Southwestern Ontario.

The letter warns that nearby residential development could create land-use conflicts involving noise, dust, truck traffic, and 24-hour operations, potentially threatening the terminal’s viability through increased complaints and regulatory pressure.

OFA argues that the proposed MZO is consistent with Ontario’s planning policies and would help protect food security, economic resilience, and agricultural competitiveness while still allowing compatible commercial and industrial development in the surrounding area. OFA strongly urges the Ministry to approve the MZO in the broader public interest.