Ontario‘s Agriculture is…

Ontario‘s Agriculture is worth $48 billion to the economy. There are 860,000 jobs in related to Agriculture in Ontario. Norfolk County is a major contributor to this economy with 218,000 acres of farmland including speciality soils unique to Norfolk and unlike other areas of Ontario. Norfolk County currently lacks infrastructure like daycare, schools, recreation, and commercial businesses which in turn would support their current most viable industry which is Agriculture. Also infrastructure such as rural roads, some of which have been closed, and Internet is lacking. The proposal from Norfolk, which is to convert agriculture land to industrial, takes away from their own economy, which is currently a thriving Agricultural industry.
Reading the proposal, most of the comments and phrases are “from Agriculture”. Why remove part of your most valuable/viable industry, agriculture.
Local aspirations in Norfolk County quite visibly are Agriculture. Norfolk’s proposal provides a NEGATIVE policy framework to guide, economic, environmental and social decisions that will have implications for the use of agricultural production and the future of Farmers and Farm families. Norfolk, in this policy will use up their raw commodity, which is soil, most commonly used for food, fibre and fuel production.
Looking at the amendment number 163 table 5, hamlets and rural areas are the only sustainable, viable area with a population of 6489 in 2704 households, and almost all of them, 5115 employed within. Expansion of development is along the main corridors of each of the municipalities, which will reduce the expedient movement of agricultural products to markets. Develop within their current boundaries!

“Canada is destined to be one of the great nations of the world and can achieve this greatness by realizing the potential of its natural resources and vast landscapes “. Sir Wilford, Laurier”.

Norfolk, unlike other parts of Ontario has the raw materials to be a major producer of products which sustain humanity. It has good and unique soil, available plentiful clean water and almost the highest heat units (growing degree days) in Ontario.

Norfolk County has the ability to produce vast quantities and varieties of agricultural products from their unique soils, more diverse products than any other County in Ontario. This prized land/soil should be used for Agriculture production. Development should and can occur within their current urban boundaries. Developers need to look at ways to increase the density of current towns and villages in Norfolk and not take the senseless, easy route of killing the soils which adorned the industry that built Norfolk to be “Ontario’s Garden”.
Sustain Norfolk's most valuable asset, Agriculture.

Thank you for your time.