NIAGARA SOUTH FEDERATION OF…

NIAGARA SOUTH FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE

August 14,2017.

Ken Peterson, Manager, Provincial Planning Policy Branch
777 Street, 13th floor Toronto, Ontario M5G 2E5
Phone: 1-855-776-8011. Email: OMBreview@ontario.ca

Re: EBR Registry Number 013-0490 Bill 139 Schedule 3 the proposed Building Better Communities Act and Conserving Watersheds Act, 2017: Amendments to the Planning Act

Dear Mr Peterson,
    The Niagara South Federation of Agriculture is a local general farm service organization that advocates for the economic and social well being of our Members. We are affiliated with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, the largest and most effective general farm organization in Ontario. Protecting agricultural lands for long term agricultural use is a key Provincial Policy Objective contained not only in the Planning Act [Section 2.(b)] but in the Provincial Policy Statement, the Greenbelt Plan, the Growth plan for the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, the the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, and the Escarpment Plan. The maintenance of agricultural lands is of paramount importance. It would seem that the Provincial Government expects that Southern Ontario in general and the Golden Horseshoe in particular are expected to accommodate substantial growth. The proposed local Planning Appeal Tribunal’s decisions need to reflect the importance of protecting farmland. We are pleased to offer a few brief comments and questions, in no particular order of importance for your consideration:

    Who will be employed by the local Planning Appeal Tribunals? If is the same personnel who worked at the OMB won’t we get the same decisions? There is no need for increased powers of entry. There is no reason that site visits cannot be arranged. The Provincial government should be the sole source of funding for the local Appeal Tribunals and Local Planning Appeal Support Centre. There is no reason that Local Planning Appeal Tribunal members should be exempt from having to testify in Court Cases. How will members of Local Planning Appeal Tribunals be held accountable? Eliminate cost awards altogether It is our understanding that the local Planning Appeal Tribunal could hold Hearings using only written or electronic submissions. Is this intended to reduce the traditional in person oral Hearings? Would the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal ask questions in writing? How much time would this take? If a traditional oral Hearing was held we would recommend using the services of a Court Reporter who could make verbatim records of questions and answers for all persons appearing at a Tribunal Hearing. Will Hearings be open to the Public?

    Thank you. We hope that you found our ideas interesting and helpful as that was our intention.

Yours truly,
Joe schonberger, President, Niagara South Federation of Agriculture
Cc: Keith Currie, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Robert Bator, Niagara North Federation of Agriculture
Henry Swierenga, OFA Member Services.

[Original Comment ID: 210738]