This consultation was open from:
July 6, 2017
to October 6, 2017
Decision summary
Following extensive consultations on the Agricultural System for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, OMAFRA is releasing the System’s guidelines and mapping to help municipalities implement these innovative land use planning tools.
Decision details
OMAFRA consulted extensively on draft Agricultural System agricultural land base mapping, draft Implementation Procedures and the Agricultural System Portal mapping of the agri-food network. This included facilitated multi-stakeholder sessions in Guelph, East Gwillimbury and Peterborough, three regional public open houses, two municipal webinars, one agricultural sector webinar, information sessions with First Nations and Métis communities, and meetings with key stakeholder organizations and municipalities.
Based on the input received, OMAFRA is now releasing the final Implementation Procedures for the Agricultural System in Ontario’s Greater Golden Horseshoe and agricultural land base mapping. Both the implementation procedures and agricultural land base map are required to be applied to land use planning decisions as of the date of this posting.
The implementation procedures will guide municipalities and others on how to implement Agricultural System policies in their communities. The agricultural land base mapping identifies prime agricultural areas across the Greater Golden Horseshoe and candidate areas for the agricultural land base.
Upper- and single-tier municipalities may refine or augment OMAFRA's agricultural land base mapping through the municipal comprehensive review process, in a manner consistent with provincial policy and the implementation procedures.
To further support implementation of the Agricultural System, OMAFRA has created a web-based Agricultural System Portal containing mapping layers that can be used to identify existing agri-food assets and clusters for economic development purposes. Mapping of the agricultural land base and elements of the agri-food network available in the portal can also be used to analyze potential adverse impact on the Agricultural System from non-agricultural uses. Provincial policy requires Agricultural Impact Assessments for settlement area expansions, infrastructure projects and mineral aggregate operations in prime agricultural areas to identify ways to avoid or, if avoidance is not possible, to minimize and mitigate adverse impacts on the Agricultural System.
Effects of consultation
The input received during consultation helped shape OMAFRA’s mapping and implementation procedures as follows.
Agricultural land base mapping
While there was broad support for more consistent protection of prime agricultural areas, municipalities had a mixed reaction to draft agricultural land base mapping. Some expressed concern that the draft map included some non-agricultural uses (e.g., industrial areas, settlement areas) and other lands that were not in agricultural production (e.g., natural areas).
As a result, OMAFRA improved the agricultural land base map by:
- addressing any large inaccuracies in settlement area boundaries and areas already designated by municipalities as prime agricultural areas
- recognizing large provincially significant wetlands and life science areas of natural and scientific interest as well as all Escarpment Natural Areas (identified in the Niagara Escarpment Plan)
- slightly adjusting the Land Evaluation and Area Review threshold score to better align with existing designated prime agricultural areas and
- addressing mapping inaccuracies identified through municipal change requests that met OMAFRA’s criteria.
Site specific issues related to the agricultural land base mapping may be addressed during municipal comprehensive review based on the Implementation Procedures for the Agricultural System in Ontario’s Greater Golden Horseshoe.
The changes made to the agricultural land base map respond to stakeholder concerns and better reflect the area in agricultural production. The mapped prime agricultural areas have been reduced by approximately 8% when compared to the original draft agricultural land base map. Most of the reduction was due to removal of large natural areas and updated municipal official plan mapping.
Notwithstanding these changes, the prime agricultural area in the revised agricultural land base map is approximately 16% larger than the area that is currently designated as prime agricultural areas in municipal official plans. This additional area has good agricultural potential based on OMAFRA’s analysis. Municipal refinement during municipal comprehensive review could result in further adjustments.
Implementation procedures
Commenters were generally supportive of the Agricultural System approach set out in the draft implementation procedures. Additional clarity was requested on how areas where prime agricultural areas overlap with natural heritage are to be treated, how to transition to the Agricultural System before the municipal comprehensive review is completed, and how to refine the agricultural land base during municipal comprehensive review. Agricultural and environmental stakeholders commented on the need for the province to be engaged during municipal implementation to ensure consistency across the Greater Golden Horseshoe. The final implementation procedures address all of these areas and a section has been added on performance monitoring.
Commenters as a whole, were highly supportive of the increased focus on the economic viability of the agri-food sector. Since the draft Agricultural System materials were posted, OMAFRA has developed an agriculture economic development resource guide that is more comprehensive than the economic development content that was included in the draft implementation procedures. The final implementation procedures summarize this resource guide and refer practitioners to the new resource guide for more fulsome information.
In response to many questions on the implications to agriculture from being located within the Natural Heritage System, key natural heritage features, and vegetation protection zones surrounding key natural heritage features, OMAFRA has updated relevant sections in the Implementation Procedures. An infosheet with additional detail is also being developed by OMAFRA, in consultation with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
Agricultural system portal
While stakeholders were very supportive of the mapping portal, recommendations were made on potential improvements to its content, usability and navigation. Commenters emphasized the importance of keeping mapping up-to-date over the long term. In response, options are being considered for continuous improvement and long term maintenance of the Agricultural System Portal.
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
Connect with us
Contact
Helma Geerts
1 Stone Road West
Ontario Government Building, 2nd floor, Southwest
Guelph,
ON
N1G 4Y2
Canada
Original proposal
Proposal details
Description of policy
On May 18, 2017, the province released updates to its four land use plans: the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH), the Greenbelt Plan, the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan and the Niagara Escarpment Plan. The updated plans contain new Agricultural System references and policies that support the protection of farmland while promoting economic development of the agri-food sector.
The provincial land use plans define the Agricultural System as a group of inter-connected elements that collectively create a viable, thriving agricultural sector. It has two components:
- An agricultural land base comprised of prime agricultural areas, including specialty crop areas, and rural lands that together create a continuous productive land base for agriculture; and
- An agri-food network which includes infrastructure, services and assets important to the viability of the agri-food sector.
Purpose of policy
Agriculture and food are central to Ontarians’ quality of life and economic prosperity. During the coordinated review of the provincial land use plans, recurring feedback was received about the need to support a vibrant agri-food sector while consistently protecting farmland across the GGH. The advisory panel on the Coordinated Land Use Planning Review, chaired by David Crombie, recommended that the province work with municipalities, the agriculture sector and other stakeholders to provide policy direction and guidance on an Agricultural System across the GGH.
OMAFRA has prepared three products that address the public’s and the advisory panel’s recommendations. They also support the implementation of the Agricultural System policies in the updated provincial land use plans.
- Draft Implementation Procedures that will guide municipalities and others on how to implement Agricultural System policies in their communities;
- A web-based, draft Agricultural System Portal containing extensive mapping that can be used to identify existing agri-food assets and clusters, for economic development purposes. The maps will also inform Agricultural Impact Assessments (i.e. assessment of potential adverse impacts from non-agricultural uses to the Agricultural System and how impacts can be avoided).
- Draft provincial mapping of the agricultural land base, created using consistent criteria. The agricultural land base mapping may be refined by municipalities in accordance with the Agricultural System Implementation Procedures.
Comments are welcome on all three products.
Public consultation
This proposal was posted for a 92 day public review and comment period starting July 06, 2017. Comments were to be received by October 06, 2017.
All comments received during the comment period are being considered as part of the decision-making process by the Ministry.
Please Note: All comments and submissions received have become part of the public record.
Other public consultation opportunities
Pre-consultation activities helped to shape OMAFRA’s draft Agricultural System mapping and Implementation Procedures. This included interviews with experts, a survey of Land Evaluation and Area Review practitioners, on-going input from a multi-stakeholder sounding-board
group, regional multi-stakeholder technical meetings, and discussions with stakeholder organizations.
Additional consultation with stakeholders will occur during the Environmental Registry posting period. For details and updates, please visit OMAFRA’s website.
Supporting materials
View materials in person
Some supporting materials may not be available online. If this is the case, you can request to view the materials in person.
Get in touch with the office listed below to find out if materials are available.
Comment
Commenting is now closed.
This consultation was open from July 6, 2017
to October 6, 2017
Connect with us
Contact
Helma Geerts
1 Stone Road West
Ontario Government Building, 2nd floor, Southwest
Guelph,
ON
N1G 4Y2
Canada
Comments received
Through the registry
66By email
46By mail
0