HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-03-10Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington Meeting
Thursday, March 10, 2022
Members Present: Don Rickard Henry Zekveld Brenda Metcalf
John Cartwright Tom Barrie Jordan McKay
Ryan Cullen Mitch Morawetz Councillor Zwart
Regrets: Ben Eastman, Eric Bowman, Jennifer Knox
Staff: Amy Burke, Faye Langmaid - Planning & Development Services
Guests: Resi Walt, Karen Yellowlees, Resi Walt and Deborah Vanberkel
Observers: Sheila Hall, Clarington Board of Trade; Stacey Jibb and Allison
Brown, Planning & Economic Development, Region of Durham
Due to COVID 19 restrictions and to ensure social distancing, participation in the
meeting was electronic (using Microsoft Teams) and by conference call.
Henry welcomed all to the meeting and introduced incoming Durham Region Federation
of Agriculture Committee member, Mitch Morawetz.
Declarations of Interest
None
Adoption of Agenda
022-008 Moved by Ryan Cullen, seconded by Don Rickard
That the Agenda for March 10, 2022 be adopted.
Carried
Approval of Minutes
022-009 Moved by Jordan McKay, seconded by Ryan Cullen
That the minutes of the February 10, 2022 meeting be approved.
Carried
Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington March 10, 2022
Presentation
Farmer Wellness Program: Karen Yellowlees, Durham Region Federation of
Agriculture, introduced Resi Walt and Deb Vanberkel to present an overview of the
Farmer Wellness Program. Resi and Deb were key players in the original
establishment of the Farmer Wellness Program in 2019. The Program provides farmers
within partnered Ontario Federation of Agriculture areas with access to counselling and
mental health services tailored to the unique needs and aspects of farming. The
establishment of the partnership arrangement within the DRFA membership region was
announced at the end of 2022. Durham is the sixth Federation area offering the
program in Ontario.
Within Durham Region, two mental health practitioners are available to provide support
and counselling. DRFA members can access four counselling sessions free of charge
through the program. All sessions are strictly confidential and offered with flexible hours
and via multiple format (in -person, phone, virtual), recognizing the unique schedules
that are inherent to farming. DRFA administers the program locally and provides the
financial support to cover the cost of the complimentary sessions. Information on the
program and how to access services is found at www.farmerwel I nessprog ram. ca.
In response to questions from the Committee, Deb explained that the uptake of the
program to date across Ontario has been significant, across a range of age groups, with
stress and anxiety being the most common factor affecting mental health that is being
seen. Many users of the program have worked with their practitioner to continue
beyond the initial four sessions with an appropriate local mental health service provider,
at the farmers cost.
Durham Agri -food Growth Plan: Stacey Jibb and Allison Brown, representatives of
Agriculture and Rural Economic Development at the Region of Durham, presented an
overview of the draft Durham Agri -Food Growth Plan (February 2022). The Plan is a 5-
year action focused document that will serve to guide the Agricultural and Rural Ec.
Dev. Team in actions that will benefit and support Durham Region's agri-food industry.
Stacey and Allison provided an overview of the 11 goal areas outlined in the draft Plan
and their associated actions.
Stacey and Allison explained that they are consulting with local stakeholders prior to
presenting a final draft plan to the Regional Planning and Economic Development
Committee for endorsement. The AACC was asked for feedback on the draft Plan,
including whether the 11 goal areas appropriately align with the direction that is needed
for the agri-food industry in Durham, potential gaps in actions and/or roles the Region's
team has a role in fulfilling, and whether any of the actions listed should not be deemed
a priority at this time.
Potential considerations provided by Committee members included:
• Strengthened actions to support local food systems and decrease reliance on
agri-food imports; and
• Taking action to protect agricultural lands and minimize opposition to agriculture
in agricultural areas.
Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington March 10, 2022
The AACC will gather and discuss comments on the Durham Agri -food Growth Plan at
its next meeting.
Delegations
None
Business Arising from Minutes
Event Barn Position Paper (Golden Horseshoe Food and Farming Alliance) Final
Report: Staff updated the Committee that the GHFFA has released a final Event Barns
Position Paper. The final report generally mirrors the draft presented to and
commented on by the AACC. This position paper will help inform staff's understanding
of the establishment of on -farm event barns in Ontario and some of the opportunities
and challenges being realized by proponents and will assist in discussions with the
AACC on matters relating to policy, regulation, and guidance for Proponents.
Vertical Farming: 101 Webinar Series: Notice of posting of the presentation materials
and recordings of the Vertical Farming: 101 Webinar Series, referenced by Brandon
Hebor, Boreal Greens Co. at the AACC's February meeting, was circulated to all prior to
the meeting.
Region of Durham Response to National Farmers Union letter: A copy of the
Region of Durham response to the National Farmers Union — Ontario letter regarding
the proposed anaerobic digestion facility was circulated to all as part of the meeting
agenda.
Correspondence. Council Items and Referrals
2022 Farmland Forum: Notice of the 2022 Farmland Forum was circulated to all prior
to the meeting. The forum will be held virtually on March 24, 2022. The year's forum
will explore the harmony of agricultural production, ecosystem services and climate
change action.
Envision Durham — Draft Regional Natural Heritage System: Staff informed the
Committee that mapping identifying a draft Regional Natural Heritage System (NHS)
has been released by the Region of Durham for comment. The Regional NHS is a key
component of the Region's comprehensive review of the Regional Official Plan —
Envision Durham. The Regional Staff Report (#2022-P-7) describing how the draft NHS
was developed and an interactive map viewer are available on the Envision Durham
webpage — www.durham.ca/Envision Durham. The deadline to submit comments to the
Region of Durham is May 2, 2022.
Liaison Reports
Durham Agriculture Advisory Committee: Planning continues for the 2022 Annual
Farm Tour, which will be hosted by Sargent Family Dairy in Enniskillen (September
2022 - date to be confirmed). This year's event will return to an in -person format,
Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington March 10, 2022
subject to public health guidelines and restrictions. The next DAAC meeting is
scheduled for March 8, 2022.
Durham Region Federation of Agriculture: No updates in addition to the kick-off of
the Farmer Wellness Program in Durham Region discussed earlier in the meeting.
Durham Farm Connections: On April 6, DFC is hosting a workshop on the Barn Quilt
Trail project in Durham Region at Blackstock United Church; email
info(a-_)durhamfarmconnections.ca for information on the project and/or workshop. The
2022 Celebrate Agriculture Gala will take place on October 27, 2022 and will be an in -
person event subject to public health guidelines and restrictions. The all about...
Farming mobile exhibit is already booking up for the 2022 event season.
Clarington Board of Trade: The Shop Where you Live campaign will soon be
relaunched as an all year around promotion. CBOT's COVID rapid antigen rapid test kit
program continues. Since May 2021, CBOT has distributed nearly 100,000 tests to
nearly 700 businesses. Test kits are still available; place orders at
www.cbot.ca/rapidscreening. Durham Workforce Authority is developing profiles of key
economic sectors in Durham Region. The first data set recently released by DWA
provides an overview of Durham Region's Agricultural Sector. CBOT will circulate the
Durham Region agricultural overview to the Committee and offered to assist in
coordinating a future presentation to the AACC, with a Clarington focus. The
Committee was interested to pursue this opportunity.
On -Farm Diversified Uses (OFDUs) Sub -Committee: The OFDU Sub -Committee
met on March 3, 2022. The meeting focused on proposed zoning regulations for
OFDUs and other emerging approaches. The discussion was informed and guided by a
comparison of uses and regulations between Clarington's draft zoning by-law
(November 2021), and zoning by-laws of the County of Brant and the City of Ottawa.
These emerging approaches were cited as leading municipal examples by recent AACC
meeting guests, Pam Duesling and Emily Sousa (University of Guelph). Comments
received from the Sub -Committee are being consolidated by staff and will be circulated
for additional input and will inform the Municipality's Comprehensive Zoning By-law
Review Project, Zone Clarington. The next meeting date is to be determined.
New Business
2022 Trees for Rural Roads Program: Applications are now being accepted for the
2022 Trees for Rural Roads program. Since the program began in 2012, residents
have planted approximately 7,400 trees along municipal roadways in Clarington. To
learn more about the program and to apply, visit www.clarington.net/treesforruralroads.
The deadline to apply is March 31, 2022.
Provincial Re -Opening and Future AACC Meetings: It was questioned when AACC
meetings could return to an in -person format. Staff informed the Committee that
Council will consider the matter of returning to Council Chambers for Council and
Standing Committee meetings in March. The outcome of these discussions will inform
whether Advisory Committees of Council can return to an in -person format this spring.
Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington March 10, 2022
Rural Area Ash Tree Removal: A request was made for an update on the timelines
and progress being made with Emerald Ash Borer infected ash tree removal across
Clarington's rural area. Staff will seek an update from Public Works on behalf of the
Committee.
John Cartwright moved to adjourn.
Next Meeting
Thursday, April 14, 2022 @ 7:30 pm (Virtual Meeting)
Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington March 10, 2022