My primary concern with the…

My primary concern with the proposed changes to the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) was the provision for 3 new/additional severances on existing agriculture zoned land. I understand the provincial government will no longer be moving ahead with this change to the PPS. Ontario is losing prime agricultural land at a alarming rate of 319 acres a day and policy is needed to slow this rate down rather than accelerate it. Thus the key objective of the PPS must be the protection of prime farm land, whether agriculture or rural zoned for long-term agriculture use.

I am concerned about other proposed changes to the PPS, and request consideration of the following points related to these concerns.

1. Current provisions for additional residential units on farms is adequate, farm succession is never meant to be dealt with through land severance, but rather by economic policies. There are only so many times that a farm can be severed. These severances will see the eventual demise of the livestock industry in much of the province.
2. I am firmly opposed to the proposed expansions of settlement area boundaries. Should settlement boundary expansion be seen as necessary, justification should be provided with a municipal comprehensive review and an Agricultural Impact Assessment.
3. Intensification targets for urban areas should remain, in fact I would rather see them strengthened. Farmland protection happens within urban boundaries.
4. The PPS should serve as the provincial standard from which local official plans are developed. Local official plans should be able to be more restrictive than the PPS, but not less.
6. The Agriculture System Mapping requirement should remain in the PPS and used for local planning purposes.
7. Lack of Municipal control

Productive farmland in Ontario is a scarce resource comprising less than five percent of the Ontario land mass. It can remain a productive economic asset as long as it remains in agriculture. Once it is developed, it is lost to agriculture forever.

I recognize the critical need for housing but believe there is sufficient land within current municipal boundaries to build the 1.5 million homes the government wants built. And homes on acre lots certainly do not address a housing shortage. No one can afford those lots, me included.

I look forward to your response to my letter and policy that increases housing and at the same time affords strong protection to Ontario's prime agriculture land.