The PPS permits a planning…

The PPS permits a planning authority to identify a new settlement area or allow a settlement area boundary expansion at any time
Policy 2.3.2.1 identifies the threat to food production which such settlement area expansions may entail and encourages that such expansions avoid prime agricultural areas "if possible" and that developers try to mitigate the impacts.

Such vague, weak statements may be fine for northern or eastern Ontario, but they are not suitable for Waterloo Region. Waterloo Region contains some of the best farm land in Ontario. It also has a growing population and a growing poverty and food insecurity problem. Our top quality farm land must be much more strongly protected.

The transition regulation should specify the rigorous method whereby Waterloo's food supply will be protected. This method will be acceptable to Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Ontario Federation of Agriculture, National Farmers Union and Christian Farmers Federation.

To be fair to those who wish to expand development on to Waterloo Region's high quality farmland, the transition regulation will specify that these rules -- and they should be rules, not "suggestions" or "possible considerations" -- must be in place by a date stated in the regulation.