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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-03-11 Minutes CLARINGTON AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2010 MEMBERS PRESENT: Mary Ann Found Mark Bragg Brenda Metcalf Ted Watson Tom Barrie Gary Jeffery Henk Mulders Eric Bowman REGRETS: Jennifer Knox Donald Rickard Ross McMaster Orwin Bandstra Marlene Werry-Durham Region Councillor Gord Robinson STAFF: Faye Langmaid Dean Jacobs GUEST: Dennis Yellowlees, Greenbelt Council ADOPTION OF AGENDA 10-07 Moved by Eric Bowman, seconded by Brenda Metcalf "That the Agenda for March 11, 2010 be adopted" "CARRIED" ARRPOVAL OF MINUTES 10-08 Moved by Mary Ann Found, seconded by Eric Bowman "That the minutes of the February 11, 2010 meeting be approved." "CARRIED" GUEST: Dennis Yellowlees, Greenbelt Council Dennis Yellowlees is one of the farmers on the Greenbelt Council; he replaced Howie Hermana, after Howie stepped down. All members of the Greenbelt Council are provincial appointees, the other members include academics, environmentalists, farmers from husbandry and specialty crop areas, planners, politicians and other professions. For a brief description of the Greenbelt Council see the attachment. Dennis provided information regarding the composition and functions of the Greenbelt Council, and discussed the challenges associated with implementation of the Greenbelt Plan and dealing with the relevant provincial ministries. Some of the Council's functions include matters such as an integrated agricultural strategy, taxation review and advising Ministries of funding needs associated with the protection and maintenance of the Greenbelt. Questions/Answer Session: Committee members expressed concern that the assessments made by MPAC are not beneficial to farming; especially when it relates to on-farm commercial enterprises such as welding shops; green energy; maple syrup production; and retail sales. The Committee was advised that they should seek allies such as environmentalists to pursue matters with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). For example Environmental Defence worked with the grape growers on the cellared in Canada issue. The Greenbelt Council does not intend to suggest or dictate what could and could not be grown in the Greenbelt, e.g. corn. Discussion ensued on the reduction in livestock farming. Based on a recent study there has been a decline in livestock farming in the Greenbelt — one of the factors attributing to the decline is the way by which the Minimum Distance Separation Formula is applied. The concern is that the Provincial Policy Statement does not go far enough to protect farm operations adjacent to residential plans of subdivision. Appropriate buffers need to be created between farm operations and residential subdivisions. With regard to funding from OMAFRA for stewardship programs and pilot programs in the Greenbelt, the Ministry's position is that it cannot treat farmers inside the greenbelt different than farmers outside the greenbelt. Options that may be considered are to lobby with environmental groups and to approach OMAFRA or other Ministry's for funding & incentives. The importance of growing and buying local food and the difficulty of getting local food stores to support local food producers requires diversification of commodities, for the farms to remain sustainable. Public pressure is needed to force grocery chains to allow local store managers to obtain and stock local foods in stores. Gary thanked Dennis for attending and providing the information. Dennis will be added to the distribution list of the Committee to be kept informed of issues. BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES Definition of farms as corporations in various Provincial Acts and the relating fines that can be imposed: Gary sat down with staff from John O'Toole's office to provide them with a better understanding of the issue so that John can send a letter outlining the issue to OMAFRA, MOE and other Provincial Ministries. AACC March 11, 2010 DEAC Awards —Algoma Orchards nominated by Durham Region. 'AACC provided a Letter in support of the nomination. Wildlife predation — Faye handed out copy of the Clarington Firearms By-law 2001-098 as amended. CORRESPONDENCE Article in Farmers Forum: complaints from farmers and townships about conservation authorities (circulated). Side loading on Regional Roads: e-mail received from Region in which they spell out their protocol for agricultural operations (circulated). Request for back-yard chicken farming in urban areas: Municipal Clerk's Staff Report will go to GPA on March 29, 2010. Recommendation is not to allow it on non- agricultural lands, 82% of Clarington is zoned agricultural. REPORTS FROM OTHER COMMITTEES DAAC DAAC tour - preliminary date set for September 16, 2010 (most likely will be Clarington focused tour). Durham Federation of Agriculture Trillium announcement regarding Farm Connections will be made April 4th DFA is talking to province about National Food Strategy, and allowing Mobile Abattoir Processors in remote areas. General meetings of DFA for 2010: April 20, August 17 and November 16. Annual meeting set for September 21, 2010. Durham Region Agriculture Awareness: trailer should be at home shows and urban events. The need for a sustainable program for the trailer has been identified and will be the focus of discussion this year. Clarington Board of Trade No items OTHER BUSINESS MOE wants to put a levy of 23c per kg on fertilizer, apparently to reduce fertilizers ending up in landfill. This could drastically affect the cost of farming. Gary will try to obtain more information. Ted will also inquire from his sources. AACC March 11, 2010 FUTURE AGENDA Next Meeting: Marilyn Bidgood from OMAFRA. For May meeting: Pam Lancaster and/or Mark Peacock from GRCA on Source Water Protection. Moved to Adjourn: Eric Bowman Next Meeting: April 8, 2010 7:30 p.m. AACC March 11, 2010 Greenbelt Council (from the MMAH website http://www.mah.gov.on.ca) The Greenbelt Council is a key part of the government's approach to Greenbelt protection, which includes the Greenbelt Act, 2005 and a Greenbelt Plan that permanently protects approximately 1.8 million acres of greenspace across the Golden Horseshoe. The Greenbelt Act, 2005 requires that the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing appoint a Greenbelt Council to provide the Minister with advice on the Greenbelt. Composition of the Council The Greenbelt Council is comprised of one or more members who support the objectives of the Greenbelt, as well as a Chair, appointed by the Minister through the Public Appointments Secretariat. The members of the Greenbelt Council come from a variety of backgrounds and are all experienced, knowledgeable and dedicated to Greenbelt Protection. Mandate The mandate of the Greenbelt Council is to provide advice to the Minister on the Greenbelt. The Council's Terms of Reference sets out those matters that the Council will provide advice on, which generally includes: the ongoing implementation of the Act and Plan, the development of performance measures to monitor the effectiveness of the Plan, any proposed amendments to the Greenbelt Plan, and the ten-year review of the Greenbelt Plan. The Council's Terms of Reference will be reviewed and revised at the request of the Minister or Council, or in the event that a new chair is appointed. Terms of Reference am "Each time history repeats itself, so it's said, the price goes up. The twentieth century was a time of runaway growth in human numbers, consumption, and technology, placing a colossal load on all natural systems, especially earth, air, and water - the very elements of life. The great question of the twenty-first century is how, or whether, this can go on. In A Short History of Progress Ronald Wright shows how our modem predicament is as old as civilization, a 20/000-year experiment we unleashed but have seldom cVVbr0&ec( Only by understanding the patterns of progress and disaster that humanity has repeated around the world since the Stone Age can we recognize the experiment's inherent dangers, and, with luck and vvisdnn\ shape its outcome." - Comments from back page of Ronald VVright'aA Short History of Progress The Greenbelt Council (the "Council") is a key port of the government's approach to Greenbelt protection, which includes the Greenbelt Act, 2005 ("theAct") and a Greenbelt Plan (the" P|an")/ to permanently protect approximately 1.8 million acres ofgreenspace across the Golden Horseshoe, The Greenbelt includes lands within the Oak Ridges Moraine (ORM) Conservation P|8O/ the Niagara Escarpment Plan, and the new Protected Countryside areas in the Greenbelt Plan. While providing permanent agricultural and environmental protection and supporting a strong agricultural and rural economy, the Greenbelt Plan also provides fora wide range of recreation, tourism and cultural opportunities, and for the provision of necessary infrastructure. (See Sections 1.1, 1.2 and 4.2 of the Greenbelt Plan) The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing may fix the terms of reference of the Council as determined by Section 15 (2) of the Act. The following V>s/nD for the Greenbelt, developed through extensive public consultation and contained in the Greenbelt Plan, reflects not only the protection of greenbelt lands but also a range of greenbelt Supportive activities. It is as fn||nvva: VISION The Greenbelt isa broad band nf permanently protected land which: • Protects against the loss and fragmentation ofthe agricultural land base and supports agriculture as the predominant land use; • Gives permanent protection to the natural heritage and water resource systems that sustain arn/ngica/ and human health and that fhnn the environmental framework around which major urbanization in south-central Ontario will be organized; and • Provides for a diverse range of economic and social activities associated with rural communities, agriculture, tourism, recreation and resource uses. Terms of Reference at available at http://www.mah.gov,on.ca/Pagel4ll.aspx Members bios are available at http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/Pagel409.aspx