We are writing to express…

We are writing to express our concerns regarding the proposed changes in the Provincial Policy Statement and their impact on agricultural lands in the province.

Ontario has some of the best farmland in the country but it is concentrated in the southern part of the province where there are also pressures to construct more housing. There is already a significant amount of farmland that is being lost every day so it is extremely important for the province to strengthen protections for this critical resource rather than weaken them. Farming is an important economic driver in Ontario not to mention the food security that it provides. As we deal with the climate crisis it is imperative that we protect the environmental benefits of farmlands and their adjacent natural areas as well ensuring food security for future generations.

We understand the critical need for housing as our population increases but compromising farmland to meet this need is not the answer. Intensification of our urban areas is a better solution both to protect farmland but also to provide accommodation where people can have easy access to services and public transportation.

The proposed changes to the Provincial Policy Statement weaken local planning policies that are meant to support intensification. In addition, the language that states land use patterns should “minimize negative impacts to air quality and climate change, promote energy efficiency” and “prepare for the impacts of a changing climate” has been removed. This change poses a significant threat to both members of the community and to the agricultural sector at a time when all of us are faced with adapting to a changing climate. Our government needs to ensure that regulations regarding land use help to mitigate the impacts of climate change, not contribute to them.

The plan to allow severance of three residential lots on farm properties will have very negative repercussions for the agricultural sector. Rules have been in place for many years here in Waterloo Region to prevent the fragmenting of farmland. These rules were put in place to protect farmland and prevent disruption to agricultural areas. Allowing this severance policy has the potential of removing many acres of farmland at a time when farmland is already being lost as mentioned previously. The severance policy will also increase the price of farmland as developers get involved in purchasing parcels of severed farmland. New farmers won’t be able to afford to purchase land, furthering the decline of the agricultural sector.

We strongly urge the provincial government to abandon the proposed changes to the Provincial Policy Statement and instead consider what measures must be taken to ensure the long-term health of our agricultural sector.