News from Queen’s Park that the Dec. 12, 2004, deadline for input into the proposed Greenbelt Protection Act is being extended was welcomed by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA).
The extension is one of the requests OFA put forth several weeks ago when it became obvious that a lot of critical details and the impacts of the legislation on farmers were not being considered by government officials.
“We want to see all of agriculture’s issues with the proposed Greenbelt plan dealt with by government before it is allowed to move to the implementation stage. It will not be satisfactory for our issues and concerns to be handled as after-thoughts,” says Ron Bonnett, OFA President.
The last public consultation meeting in Caledon East provided proof that more than farmers are dissatisfied with the proposal and the process, Bonnett notes. “From questions asked and comments made at that meeting, it is obvious the plight of farmers has become a concern for those outside agriculture.
“There are too many unknowns by citizens about the legislation and an obvious lack of understanding by government officials of the impacts of the legislation on farmers,” he says. Ensuring a viable future for agricultural operations within the greenbelt area is critical, according to Bonnett, but as yet unaddressed by government. “Preservation of farmland must also ensure the preservation of farming.”
OFA is also asking the government for a single set of operating principles for agriculture. Currently farmers are facing nutrient management regulations, source water protection regulations, a Provincial Policy Statement Review and Grow Ontario initiatives. “We want a single set of guidelines that farmers can understand,” Bonnett says.
OFA has requested the establishment of a multi-party review committee from the Ontario Legislature to perform a comprehensive review of the proposed Greenbelt Protect Act. There has been no new consultation deadline announced.
~Ron Bonnett~
President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture