The proposed planning…

The proposed planning initiatives for housing (PPS 2023, Bill 97) fails to ensure strong protection now and in the future for two critical elements: our food security and our climate/environment. Any housing plan should protect our ability to farm if we are to have a secure food supply and healthy climate. What the pandemic has taught us or should have taught us is that food security and supply line security are critical concerns. Housing at the expense of farmland is dangerous. Historically villages, towns and cities were built where it was also possible to farm. Just because that is where our houses, towns and cities initially sprung up should not dictate that we continue to build on or adjacent to farmland. While it is true that we do need housing, if we eliminate farmland and degrade air, water and soil quality, it is infinitely more expensive, if not impossible to get these back.