NDACT's Food & Water First…

NDACT's Food & Water First campaign supports expansi to stand up for the Township of Melancthon’s food land and source water thereby defending 2,300 acres of prime farmland as well as the headwaters of five significant rivers.

We have learned to value meaningful consultation in the decision-making process.  We were grateful to participate in the coordinated four plan land use review.  Now we appreciate being asked to comment on the proposed Greenbelt expansion.

Importance of Farm Land & Water

Today we recognize that Ontario is losing 175 acres of prime farmland every day, and that source water areas across the province are in jeopardy from various issues.  We would be delighted to see the Greenbelt expand to include and protect former “mega quarry” lands.  We support the Greenbelt expansion and any efforts to protect prime farmland and source water.

Food and water are the necessities of life. We are fortunate in southern Ontario to have rare, rain-fed agricultural soils and an abundance of fresh water. These vital resources must not be squandered, but protected in perpetuity.

It is estimated that the population of the Greater Golden Horseshoe region will grow almost 50% to 13.5 million people by 2041.  Water will be critical for a healthy population and economy. We will need it to drink and to grow the food that will sustain us. Ontario’s $34-billion agri-food sector – the largest in Canada – will continue to rely on freshwater resources to produce fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy products.  Our water must be protected from aggregate and mining operations that negatively impact aquifers and water tables. It must be protected from commercial bottling operations that pump millions of litres of Ontario’s groundwater for profit. In addition, climate change is taking its toll on food-producing regions in other parts of the world, impacting the food we import. Ontario could become one of the world’s food providers as other nations suffer through the extremes of global warming.

It is imperative that the government takes the necessary steps to ensure we have enough food and water for future food security and economic viability. Now is the time to strengthen and expand the Greenbelt with the Bluebelt so more of our agricultural lands and water resources are preserved for generations to come.

#FoodAndWaterFirst #ProtectOurWater #ProtectPrimeFarmland #IdleNoMore #Greenbelt #Bluebelt #FarmersFeedCities #GrowTheGreenbelt

[Original Comment ID: 213438]