Updated Implementation Procedures for the Agricultural System in Ontario’s Greater Golden Horseshoe

The Agricultural System approach integrates farmland protection with economic development to support a thriving agri-food sector. The intention is to create jobs, allow local food to flourish and create trade and economic opportunities.

OMAFRA first issued Agricultural System Implementation Procedures in February 2018 after the 2017 release of provincial plans for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (e.g. Growth Plan, Greenbelt Plan). The implementation procedures explained provincial Agricultural System policies and how they were to be implemented.

Following consultation during winter 2019, the Province released A Place to Grow: Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe in May 2019. A Place to Grow protects agricultural areas while providing flexibility for municipalities to respond to their local context. A Place to Grow delays the implementation of the agricultural land base mapping outside of the Greenbelt Area until implemented in upper- and single-tier municipal official plans. New policy direction found in A Place to Grow has triggered the need to update the Implementation Procedures for the Agricultural System in Ontario’s Greater Golden Horseshoe.

Municipalities are required to implement the Agricultural System according to provincial policies and these implementation procedures. The province will collaborate with municipalities to refine mapping of the agricultural land base.