OFA encouraging voters to ask municipal candidates about farmland preservation

Municipal decisions play a critical role in preserving farmland.

With municipal elections rapidly approaching, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) encourages agri-food producers to ask hard questions at debates before they vote. 

“For voters who care about preserving farmland in Ontario, this fall’s municipal elections are critically important,” said Peggy Brekveld, OFA president, in a release. “When you cast a ballot on Oct. 24th, we kindly ask that you cast it well-informed of where your candidates stand on preserving farmland.”

Why it matters: Municipal official plans and urban boundary settings determine where development should occur, making them the first farmland defenders.

The OFA is encouraging voters to ask where candidates stand on the use of Minister’s Zoning Orders which allow municipalities to bypass standard urban development planning processes and reduce comments and community input into development proposals. 

“When an application comes forth that would dig up or pave over land that is currently growing food, fibre, fuel or flowers in order to build homes, a shopping plaza or new school,” said Brekveld. “Municipal councillors are the ones who get the first opportunity to say yay or nay.”

Additionally, asking candidates about their platform regarding public transit, the purpose of urban boundaries, new development incentives they might support and their future vision for the community will reveal their understanding and thinking around land use.

According to the Census of Agriculture released in the spring, Ontario loses 319 acres of productive farmland daily, equivalent to enough acreage to grow 75.6 million carrots, 23.5 million apples, or 1.2 million bottles of Ontario VQA wine.

The OFA does not endorse any one candidate or political party. Still it has developed Agriculture Matters: A guide for municipal councillors and staff, outlining issues facing local farmers and how to grow into an agriculture-friendly community.

“It is easy to take our farmland for granted, but voters should remember that farmland is a finite resource,” Brekveld said. “Once that farm is turned into a shopping centre or subdivision, that land is gone forever.”