The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2015-04-09 Minutes AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE of CLARINGTON MEETING th THURSDAY, April 9, 2015 MEMBERS PRESENT: John Cartwright Brenda Metcalf Tom Barrie Mary Ann Found Les Caswell Eric Bowman Ted Watson Don Rickard Henry Zekveld REGRETS: Jenni Knox, Elgin Greenham, Councillor Partner STAFF: Faye Langmaid, Mitch Morawetz GUESTS: Lindsay Coolidge, Tracy James-Hockin, UOIT Brenda welcomed all to the meeting, with introductions. Brenda thanked Ted for his leadership of the committee over the past 2 years. Adoption of Agenda 015-10 Moved by Tom Barrie, seconded by Les Caswell That the Agenda for April 9 th, 2015 be adopted CARRIED Approval of Minutes 015-11 Moved by Don Rickard, seconded by Eric Bowman March 12, 2015 meeting be approved th CARRIED Guest: Lindsay Coolidge, Tracy James-Hockin UOIT Comprehensive university offering over 76 unique market-oriented programs. 46 undergraduate, including 18 pathways programs, 30 graduate programs, both the STEM-intensive faculties: Engineering and Applied Science; Energy Systems and Nuclear Science; Health Sciences; Science; Business and Information Technology; Education; Social Science and Humanities; and Graduate Studies -represented youth (Aboriginal, varying abilities, first generation) and require financial assistance. 200 professors and lecturers, 10,000 growing alumni base. Over 660 international students from over 55 countries. Campus Master Plan, in collaboration with Durham College st Innovative, 21-century University. First undergraduate students in September 2003, first graduate students in 2005. Offers programs that are responsive to industry and community needs, and address public policy challenges and skills and labour gaps. Training our students to drive innovation and think like entrepreneurs in order to create jobs, spur economic growth competitiveness. Focus on academic pathways between colleges and universities. A unique diploma-to-degree bridge program that provides numerous opportunities to apply college credits towards a university degree and expand career options upon graduation. Technology-enriched learning environment, research-intensive, STEM-focused. Graduate globally competitive citizen leaders with real-world skills, prepared for success shop floor ready and boardroom ready. Institutional priorities: Smart Communities, Sustainable Energy, Advanced Manufacturing There are many opportunities and mutual benefits when universities engage and interact with industry and community organizations. UOIT provides access to: Students and graduates Subject area expertise via our researchers Specialized equipment, facilities and services New technologies and processes Continuing education UOIT looks forward to working with industry and community partners to understand your industry/sector, work with you on real world problems, expose our students to practical situations, and enhance our interaction with our community. Discussion with the Committee focused on how UOIT could better integrate with the agricultural community. Ideas discussed was making presentations to Ontario Soil and Crop and commodity groups. th Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington April 9, 2015 Continuing Education for farmers a possible course would be communications and public relations as farmers have to get their message out. Research areas included neonics, robotics, drones, data management/analytics, traceability, allelopathic symbiosis Rather than each farmer working individually with a student there could be a number of farmers working with a student, more of an industry approach. This could include the writing up of the different committee members approach to business as case studies. Business Arising from Minutes Greenbelt Review process - Faye reviewed with the group her impressions of the meeting in Cobourg, who attended and the format of the meetings. The meetings are Ajax on April 20 and Newcastle on May 4. For specifics and discussion papers see http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page10990.aspx. Minimum Distance Separation (MDS) Provincial review - Mitch reviewed the purpose of the MDS Guidelines and Formulae and the proposed changes with the group. That the Guidelines and Formulae: - reflect current land use planning principles and practices - reflect current technology and approaches within Ontario's livestock industry - continue to meet the needs of agriculture and rural communities across Ontario. Key changes proposed: - Updating the definitions section to harmonize terms with the PPS and Nutrient Management Act, 2002 (NMA) - Aligning the review of MDS with other provincial reviews of the NMA and PPS (or as needed) - Inclusion of a requirement for municipalities to apply MDS to development on existing lots of record unless they adopt zoning by-law provisions to exempt this requirement - Clarifying the application of MDS for various types of lot creation - Updating Table 1 used to calculate MDS setbacks to align with current livestock production (e.g. new housing systems, different livestock class, etc.) - Clarifying that MDS does not apply to extraction of minerals aggregates and petroleum resources, infrastructure, and landfills. - Clarifying the roles and responsibilities for preparing an MDS setback calculation - The addition of a cap for MDS II setbacks between livestock barns and road allowances - Expanding the exemption from MDS to address not only catastrophes, but to include reconstruction for other reasons - Harmonizing MDS setbacks for anaerobic digester systems located on farms with or without livestock to match those specified in NMA Regulation - Clarifying that MDS setbacks for agriculture-related uses and on-farm diversified uses are applied at the discretion of a municipality, through appropriate zoning by- law provisions th Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington April 9, 2015 - New web-based software application to be available to municipalities and other stakeholders th The Province is accepting comments until May 20 on the proposed changes. They are th hosting a webinar on April 28 that Mitch will be participating in. Correspondence and Council Referrals Regional Reports #2015-EDT-12 and #2015-EDT-17 from Nancy Rutherford. If anyone would like to receive the Durham Region Agricultural and Rural Affairs Newsletter please let Nancy know. E-mail regarding Organic Meadow being placed under receivership and bankruptcy protection. Liaison Reports DAAC DAAC Tour is set for September 18, 2015, Windermere Farms. DAAC had same presentation from UOIT. DRFA DRFA Farm Connections at the Vipond Arena in Brooklin last few days was very successful. Thank you to committee members that participated. th Clarington Board of Trade Agricultural Summit was March 17 at Canadian Tire rd Motorsport Park and had 75 in attendance. Looking forward to the 3 Ag Summit in rd 2016. AGM is April 23, Donald Rickard will be running for President. Young professionals evening being organized at Manantler Brewery. Other Business As a follow-up to the presentation by CLOCA, a letter should be sent thanking Chris for his presentation and offering assistance on agricultural issues. Future Agendas Suggestion that one of the groups protesting treatment of animals be invited so that they could provide an understanding of how they would like farming and animal treatment to occur. June Planning Services on Official Plan; and possibly Communications July 407 Pauline VanRoon and Chris Brown John Cartwright moved to Adjourn th Next Meeting, May 14, 7:30 p.m. Room 1C at Municipal Administrative Office Trans Canada Pipeline East Mainline th Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington April 9, 2015