Spring to Action!

The spring of 2015 is going to be critical in determining how Ontario moves forward with the protection of four key land use plans: the Greenbelt, Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, Greater Golden Horseshoe Growth Plan and Niagara Escarpment Plan. They’re all under review amid intense pressure from developers interested in slicing into the preserved areas. You can help ensure the farmland, forests and water resources in these regions continue to be protected!

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing has organized a coordinated review of the four plans led by former Toronto mayor, David Crombie. You can attend public town hall meetings or make written submissions before May 28th. Your voice is important. We discovered this during the Stop the Mega Quarry campaign. People Power works!

The details of the review, dates for town hall meetings and submission forms can be found here: http://www.greenbelt.ca/2015review

Mark Reusser of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture writes in the Barrie Examiner that protecting the farmland within these plans is necessary for sustainable farming and a local food supply. He also states: “We need to see the implementation of fixed urban boundaries and higher urban density requirements as a key element in preserving farmland.”

This argument is echoed in a Toronto Star op-ed The Greenbelt makes the GTA more, not less livable by Toronto’s Chief Planner Jennifer Keesmaat and Cherise Burda, the Ontario Director of the Pembina Institute. They say the Greater Golden Horseshoe region is not running out of land to build houses as developers claim.”We could build five more Mississaugas or 11 more Oakvilles without bumping up against the Greenbelt.”

They also point out that we’re using less land to house more people, and this intensification means approximately 80 percent of the land available for development in the GTA will still be unused by 2031. These statistics are supported by the Neptis Foundation in this report: Land Supply Question in the GTHA

The findings back Food & Water First’s call for a 10-year moratorium on non-farming development impacting Class 1 farmland. Municipal growth projections and current urban intensification patterns indicate we won’t need any more “greenfield” land to accommodate housing through to the year 2041. So, why not hit the pause button on rezoning applications for any non-farming development on our rarest farmland? Let’s take the time to ensure our land-use policies adequately protect the only soils capable of growing our food.

Attend a town hall meeting. Make a written submission before the May 28^th deadline! Have your say on this critical issue and create a lasting legacy for future generations.

We’ve made it easy! Spring to Action guide & links

 

CBC Radio: The Dirt on Soil

Broadcaster and author Sarah Elton recently tackled the vital issue of soil in an hour-long CBC Radio program. Our survival depends on healthy soil. It grows our food, filters our water and helps combat climate change. But the world continues to lose this precious resource at an unsustainable rate. Have a listen to Sarah’s excellent show: CBC’s The Dirt on Soil