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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-02-12 Minutes AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE of CLARINGTON MEETING th THURSDAY, February 12, 2015 MEMBERS PRESENT: John Cartwright Brenda Metcalf Tom Barrie Tim Sargent Les Caswell Eric Bowman Ted Watson Don Rickard Jenni Knox Elgin Greenham REGRETS: Mark Bragg, Councillor Partner STAFF: Faye Langmaid, Mitch Morawetz GUESTS: Kathy Macpherson and Sarah Petrevan from Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation, Dennis Yellowlees from the Greenbelt Council, Councillor Hooper (8:07 pm), Laura Wood from CBOT and Julie Curran and Tony Janssen from the Scugog Chambers of Commerce. Ted welcomed all to the meeting. Adoption of Agenda 015-03 Moved by Tom Barrie, seconded by Don Rickard th That the Agenda for February 12, 2015 be adopted. CARRIED Approval of Minutes 015-04 Moved by Eric Bowman, seconded by Don Rickard th January 8, 2014 meeting be approved CARRIED Guests: Kathy Macpherson, Sarah Petrevan and Dennis Yellowlees Greenbelt 10 year review The Greenbelt 10 year review is principally to look at the effectiveness of the Greenbelt Plan and consider modifications to improve the effectiveness of it. The review is to be coordinated with the review of the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, the Niagara th Escarpment Plan and the Growth Plan. An announcement is to come on February 28 regarding the strategy for the review including consultation with the public and stakeholders. Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing will lead the review process with input from the other Ministries. Consultation with the public and stakeholders should occur before the summer so that the Ministry will have time to review all comments received and come forward with an Environmental Bill of Rights posting in the fall. The committee passed a resolution in 2011 that would support adding lands currently in the whitebelt areas to the Greenbelt. The Municipality will need to work on this and ultimately have the Region endorse any proposal to include whitebelt lands within the Greenbelt. The Committee and Clarington Council will need to push strongly for this to make it happen. The Region has already been working towards this review and through its work has identified the need for flexibility within the Greenbelt Plan and policies. Ted Watson commented that there needs to be a setback between development and farms if the farms close to development are to be protected and remain viable. Proposals for new development could be required to include an Agricultural Impact Assessment if they are outside the urban area. Committee members asked if there is Greenbelt funding available to support events such as Farm Connections or the CBOT Agricultural Summit yes, there could be. Dennis Yellowlees commented that the coordinated review should be concluded within the year and that it is highly unlikely that the Plans being reviewed will be amalgamated. He said that it is recognized that there is a need to support farmers in addition to protecting farmland. Members commented that there is a need to think beyond the next generation or two - something that is currently absent from the plans and the minds of most people today. Ted thanked Kathy, Sarah and Dennis for and other guests for joining us. Business Arising from Minutes Ted presented th eneral Purpose and Administrative Committee in January. The presentation was well received. Neonics letter has been endorsed by Clarington Council and submitted to the Environmental Bill of Rights and sent to the Ministers of Agriculture and Environment. Correspondence and Council Referrals Letter from Kathy Macpherson regarding preparing for the Greenbelt Plan review. Council thanked Chair and Committee for presentation. th Ontario Farmland Trust - Farmland Forum on March 27 - registration is now available. Liaison Reports DAAC Last meeting the committee discussed the future of roads and road upgrades in the Region. DAAC Tour is set for September 18, 2015. DRFA Private members bill regarding Trespass has reached second reading. th Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington February 12, 2015 DRFA has been invited to have a table at the CBOT Ag Summit. thth April 7 to 9 is Farm Connections at the Vipond Arena in Brooklin. th Clarington Board of Trade Agricultural Summit is March 17 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Meeting held with four Deans and other staff from UOIT - discussion on the type of research projects that students from many different faculties could engage in using the agriculture sector as a resource and study area. Electronics, computer programming, mechanical, engineering, remote sensing, auto-steer where all touched on as part of the discussion. The Deans will take the message back to their faculty and provide contacts. There was acknowledgement from the Deans that more could be done to have students develop interest in the agricultural sector to develop the understanding of how integrated the sector is with many other professions and that there is growth potential. Other Business Congratulations to Tim Sargent and family for the top Jersey cow award. Durham Labour Market Plan Letter and survey sent to members of the committee. rd Council will be recommending Committee appointments on Feb 23 which will go to nd Council for ratification on March 2. Faye will notify committee members. Future Agendas April Lindsay Coolidge from UOIT May Trans Canada Pipeline East Mainline Eric Bowman moved to Adjourn th Next Meeting, March 12, 7:30 p.m. Room 1C at Municipal Administrative Office - Chris Darling from CLOCA and Mark Peacock from GRCA th Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington February 12, 2015