OFA extended its appreciation for the decision to reverse the Greenbelt land removals. OFA looks forward to working with the government to balance the need for housing with the protection of agricultural land without jeopardizing production of food, fibre, fuel and flowers in Ontario.
OFA maintains its current position and recommends the province should take a holistic, systematic, province-wide approach that prioritizes protecting agricultural lands and identifies the most appropriate areas for growth with justifiable criteria and comprehensive analysis. OFA encourages the provincial government to continue to consult with experts and stakeholders, while exploring other avenues to address housing supply which do not sacrifice farmland or the Agricultural System.
OFA feels that a key part of the province’s continued growth and success relies on the health and longevity of Ontario’s agricultural sector. We need to work towards a plan to sustain and grow the vibrant agricultural sector in the greenbelt area and across Ontario.
OFA urges the provincial government to implement changes to build more homes faster that reflect that growth management to meet housing demand and farmland protection are two sides of the same coin. More robust protection against development on agricultural land combined with fixed, permanent urban boundaries and mandatory compliance with urban density and intensification requirements will achieve community development and farmland protection objectives.