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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-11-13* Subject to Advisory Committee approval * Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington November 13, 2025 Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington Meeting Minutes Date: Thursday, November 13, 2025 Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: Microsoft Teams or Meeting Room 1C, Municipal Administrative Centre 40 Temperance St., Bowmanville, Ontario Members Present: Henry Zekveld (Chair), Councillor Zwart, Eric Bowman, Lloyd Vandergaast, Tom Barrie, John Cartwright, Richard Rekker, Brad Found, Craig Rickard, Mitch Morawetz (DRFA) Regrets: Jennifer Knox Staff Present: Sylvia Jennings, David Perkins – Planning and Infrastructure Services Guests: Andrew Janes – Region of Durham, Stacey Jibb – Invest Durham 1. Welcome and Introductions H. Zekveld welcomed everyone to the meeting with introductions. 2. Land Acknowledgement Statement H. Zekveld recited the Land Acknowledgement Statement. 3. Declarations of Interest None. 4. Approval of Minutes of October 9, 2025 025-023 Moved by E. Bowman seconded by T. Barrie That the Minutes of the October 9, 2025 meeting be approved. Carried 5. Presentations / Delegations 5b. Regional Road Capital Program – Andrew Janes, Region of Durham Works Department Andrew Janes provided a presentation on Regional Road Capital Projects with a focus on rural projects in Clarington. In 2024, Regional Works completed the rehabilitation of 10 km of roads, including partially paved shoulders to aid cyclists and farm equipment. The Durham Vision Zero campaign was expanded through new all-way stops, posted 40 km/hr zones, pedestrian improvements and more roundabout construction. Rural 2025 road improvement projects include Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington November 13, 2025 reconstruction and widening of Bowmanville Ave from Baseline Rd to south of Hwy 2, and rehabilitation of Taunton Rd from east of Townline Rd to west of Enfield Rd, and Regional Road 57 from Shirley Ave to 0.7km north of Edgerton Rd in Scugog. The Region is continuing to upgrade rural road standards and welcomes comments from the rural community. A. Janes described improvements that can better accommodate farm equipment, including roundabouts with wide rights of way, more room between guardrails, and mountable curbs in rural intersections. The Region is repurposing excess fill from road projects by flattening slopes next to roads to reduce the need for guardrails. The Region has also worked with local farmers to use excess soil to fill low areas in fields. In response to questions from Committee members A. Janes reported the following: • Centres of roundabouts are typically planted with low maintenance shrubs. • The budget for capital projects will be more accurate the further along in the design phase it is. • Advance greens at new traffic signals are added as necessary based on traffic counts. • Green painted lanes may be for a bus stop where cars aren’t permitted. • The traffic light at a lower-level road will only turn green at an intersection with a higher order road when a vehicle is waiting in it. H. Zekveld thanked A. Janes for his presentation. 6. Business Arising from the Minutes 6a. Additional Action Items – Craig Rickard C. Rickard raised three additional action items for the Committee to consider adding to its work plan. C. Rickard suggested the Committee should explore issues with drainage, including ditch maintenance and barriers to tile drainage. The Committee suggested Clarington could learn from the City of Kawartha Lakes drainage supervisor, and that education towards municipal staff about the importance of clearing ditches for tile drains could be helpful. C. Rickard suggested that it could be helpful to have a clearer system for navigating permit approvals for agriculture. S. Jennings suggested that the Economic Development department can be used to help navigate this process. Glen MacFarlane will be invited to attend a future meeting to speak about how Economic Development can assist farmers with the application process. R. Rekker noted that his recent experience with the permitting process went smoothly. C. Rickard suggested the Committee could put together a list of events to invite Council to attend to show their support for agriculture. 6b. New Committee Member Posting Council voted to remove Chris Ennis from the Committee. An application form is now available online to fill the position. Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington November 13, 2025 7. Communications 7a. Letter from the Ontario Sheep Farmers A letter was received from Ontario Sheep Farmers regarding Livestock Guardian Dogs. The Committee was sent similar correspondence in 2022 and Clarington’s bylaws were reviewed to ensure its regulatory framework accommodates livestock guardian dogs. S. Jennings will ensure that the letter is shared with municipal by- law enforcement. 7b. Invitation to the Clarington Agricultural Roundtable Clarington Board of Trade is hosting a Clarington Agricultural Round Table on November 28, 2025 from 9 am to 11 am in Solina. Local MPP and Minister of the Environment, Todd McCarthy, will be in attendance. 7c.Invitation from Invest Clarington and Invest Durham for Planting the Seed: Diversifying Your Farm’s Future. A workshop is being held on November 18, 2025 regarding farm diversification. 8. Liaison Reports 8a. Durham Agricultural Advisory Committee – T. Barrie Agriculture Mental Health Training Day was moved to February. DAAC’s annual report regarding issues for agriculture will be presented at Clarington’s February 2, 2026 General Government Committee. Senator Rob Black will be coming in person to the April DAAC meeting, which will be hosted in Council Chambers. The next DAAC meeting will be on December 9, 2025. 8b. Durham Region Federation of Agriculture – M. Morawetz The DRFA Annual General Meeting was held on October 21 in Greenbank. Elections were held. Activities and financials from the last year were reviewed. A report was given from the outgoing zone director Steve Brackenridge. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture AGM is November 25 – 26 and will be held at the Delta Conference Centre in Toronto. There are spaces available for more DRFA members to attend the convention. 8c. Durham Agricultural Economic Development Update – S. Jibb The North Durham municipalities are continuing to implement the recommendations of the Ag Related and On Farm Diversified Uses Study by updating their Official Plans and Zoning By-laws. Invest Durham is working to share this information with other Durham municipalities to unify regulations across the Region. Scugog has received approximately 10 applications regarding on farm diversified uses. Invest Durham is working with Durham Farm Connections and Durham Farm Fresh to determine the future of their shared farm coordinator. As part of Do It In Durham Entrepreneurship Week, workshops are being held on diversifying you farm and farm succession. Farm Credit Canada is hosting a young farmers summit at Great Blue Heron Casino. 9. New Business 9a. Minister Visit to Rekker Farm Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington November 13, 2025 R. Rekker hosted a tour for the Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, Trevor Jones, and his staff. The Minister inquired about migrant workers and housing. He asked R. Rekker’s opinion on housing conditions for migrant workers and other agricultural issues. R. Rekker raised the issue of ‘rack theft’ which results in losses of $50k – $100k per year. 9b. Rescheduled Mayor Attendance the AACC J. Cartwright asked about the Mayor’s attendance at the AACC, since the August meeting was canceled. S. Jennings and C. Rickard suggested that the Committee should determine a clear purpose to inviting the mayor with specific questions or asks prepared ahead of time. The Committee will review its work plan in the new year. 9c. Foreign Ownership of Farmland J. Cartwright raised an article regarding foreign ownerships of farmland in PEI. He noted that Ontario doesn’t have caps on foreign ownership of farmland. The Committee discussed possible ways to highlight this issue to the Provincial government. 9d. Future Meeting Topic – Ian Affleck, Gene Editing H. Zekveld asked about Ian Affleck speaking to the Committee about gene editing. S. Jibb recommended him. C. Rickard questioned if the presentation was within the scope of the Committee. S. Jennings suggested that a refresher of the Committee’s Terms of Reference could be helpful in the new year. In response to a question, S. Jennings clarified that there is no requirement that one member of the AACC be a non farmer. 10. Date of Next Meeting December 11, 2025 11. Adjournment 025-023 Moved by J. Cartwright, Seconded by T. Barrie That the meeting adjourn at 9:46 pm. Carried