Ontario farmers group speaks out on Greenbelt, saying 'farmland needs to be protected'
CBC
A major Ontario farming group said Tuesday that the Greenbelt doesn't need to be developed to solve the province's housing crisis.
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) shared a statement to its members as political leaders from all provincial parties attended the annual International Plowing Match in Bowling Green, Ont.
The OFA, which represents more than 38,000 farmers and industry workers, previously said in a 2021 open letter to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing that "the province should take a holistic, systematic, province-wide approach that identifies the most appropriate areas for growth."
In a statement released Tuesday, the OFA said it wanted to clarify the organization's stance on the controversial Greenbelt land swap.
"Ontario's farmland must be protected," the statement said.
The OFA is the latest high-profile organization to express concern over the development of previously protected lands in the Greenbelt.
A coalition made up of 125 organizations and 100 people — which included environmentalists, labour unions, farmers, and housing advocates — signed a statement condemning the opening of the Greenbelt for development back in 2022.
The Ford government removed approximately 2,995 hectares of land from 15 different areas of the Greenbelt in December — while adding more land elsewhere — to build 50,000 homes. The government said the changes were part of its plan to build 1.5 million new homes in the next decade.
The OFA said it prioritizes protecting Greenbelt land, but that its stance doesn't mean it is anti-development.
"The housing crisis facing Ontario is real, and we understand the government's need and plan to add more housing stock to the market. We also think this plan can be achieved by building within existing urban boundaries — utilizing underdeveloped areas, reclaiming abandoned industrial lands and building up instead of out."
The OFA said it will remain "a willing partner" with the government to find solutions to address the housing crisis without having to develop on farmland.
Premier Doug Ford was among politicians that made the annual trip to the International Plowing Match on Tuesday. The expo — being held at Bowling Green, Ont., north of Guelph — is billed as celebration of agriculture and rural living.
Legislature usually shuts down for the day so politicians can attend, but this year the return from the summer break was pushed back a week to accommodate the expo.
Ford received a polite welcome according to the Canadian Press, despite some attendees not entirely being on board with the plan to develop the Greenbelt.
When Stephanie Gamble watched her mother model the first dress she made, smiling wide and walking an imaginary runway, she knew that was what she wanted to keep doing in her life.
'Tis the season for cuddling on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate and watching holiday movies. And for people in B.C.'s Interior, that can increasingly mean seeing their home communities on display.
Every year, snowy owls spread their wings and migrate down to the Prairies, where they enjoy access to plenty of rodent prey in vast open spaces.
This month has been a busy stretch at the Upper Room Food Bank in Charlottetown.
N.W.T. Education Minister Caitlin Cleveland says she has received the final report from an independent investigation into education bodies in the Dehcho region.
P.E.I.’s auditor general says he’s concerned and disappointed that the projected deficit has doubled what government initially estimated it would be — and he's urging the province to balance its budget.
A man found not criminally responsible for stabbing five people to death at a Calgary house party is getting more freedoms but not an absolute discharge.
A man has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the shooting death of a Toronto mother outside a supervised consumption site in Leslieville.
Russian olive trees — sometimes known as silver berry or oleaster — are small, ornamental plants with silvery leaves and black bark, and small yellow flowers and silver fruit that look like miniature olives. They’re pretty, but they’re a problem.
The Yukon Legislative Assembly’s fall sitting ended on Thursday after the territorial government introduced and passed a supplementary budget.
A Canadian military counter-intelligence operative, who stands accused of passing sensitive information to Ukraine, was involved in an investigation into allegations that a leading Canadian defence journalist was a longtime Russian asset.
An Alberta panel aimed at finding ways the province can strengthen its autonomy has offered up seven recommendations, including options for referendum topics.
People won't be able to travel along B.C.'s Highway 3 without significant delays and detours over the holiday season, says the Ministry of Transportation.