Halton Agricultural Advisory Committee 2008 Annual Report

Transcription

1 Attachment#2 to LPS48-09 Halton Agricultural Advisory Committee 2008 Annual Report James Fisher and Chair Carr in front of a square bale storage facility Chair Carr and Councillor Taylor participate in a discussion on mushroom production Chair Carr presents a token of our appreciation to Tom Chudleigh for allowing us to visit the Chudleigh processing facility in Milton 2008 Halton Farm Tour held on September 18, 2008

2 A Message from the Halton Agricultural Advisory Committee Chairman I am pleased to present this Annual Report as Chairman of the Halton Agricultural Advisory Our main objective is to support agriculture in Halton through our review and comment on matters affecting agriculture. During 2008, HAAC members focussed on policy development through continued participation in the Sustainable Halton planning exercise and the Landscape Contractors Study. The Sustainable Halton exercise is critical to agriculture as one of its objectives is to accommodate population growth within Halton Region to Some of the area required to accommodate this growth will be lands currently designated as Agricultural Rural Area. We look forward to continuing to advise and support Regional Council in this important exercise throughout We are grateful for the support Halton Region provides to this committee and to the agricultural sector. We look forward to working with Regional Council and staff to find ways to further support agricultural sustainability and to ensure that agricultural concerns are considered in all current and upcoming initiatives. Stephen Baker, HAAC Chairman HALTON AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE 2008 MEMBERSHIP Stephen Baker, Chairman Lee Nurse, Vice-Chair Megan Krueger Don Rowntree Lieven Gevaert June Barnes Johann Leitgeb Robert Marshall Glenn Powell Joe Richardson Bert Andrews Sandy Grant Peter Lambrick Harold Patterson Lance Pocock Councillor Clark Somerville Councillor Barry Lee Halton Junior Farmers Halton-Wentworth Fruit & Vegetable Growers Halton Peel Cattlemen's Association Halton Soil and Crop Improvement Halton Milk Committee Halton Pork Producers Regional Council Representative Regional Council Alternate Non-Voting Participants Stirling Todd Alana Fulford/ Glenna Phillips Staff Liaison, Region of Halton Liaison Technician, Region of Halton

3 Overview and Emerging Trends As an important source of ongoing advice on agricultural issues, HAAC members are consulted at the earliest possible stages in the development of Regional policy. During 2008, this role was primarily expressed through continued involvement in Sustainable Halton. HAAC members also continued to be involved in matters involving agricultural business development and other issues with potential for future impact to farming such as the Landscape Contractor s Study and the GTA Agricultural Action Plan. The review of development proposals was a relatively small component of HAAC s work program during Policy Development Sustainable Halton was established as Halton Region s response to the Provincial Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe. It addresses the future of the 30,000ha Designated Non- Urban Area, one-quarter to one-third of which will be needed to accommodate urban development to Sustainable Halton was the focus of most HAAC meetings throughout HAAC members participated in several special HAAC meeting, several public meetings, and one workshop related to Sustainable Halton. HAAC provided input into the criteria to be used in a Land Evaluation and Area Review (LEAR) Study and throughout the development of the LEAR Study itself. HAAC has provided input on the Provincial initiative Growing the Greenbelt to the Long Range Planning section, which formed part of the Region s response to the Province. HAAC was also consulted and provided input into the Halton Region Strategic Plan, Draft , which establishes themes and goals to be undertaken through the term of Regional Council, and the 2009 Action Plan. HAAC was provided regular updates and provided input on the regionally led Landscape Contractors Study, the development of a Regional Local Food Procurement Program and on Regional Official Plan matters as they relate to agriculture. HAAC was also consulted regularly on the Region of Halton Shale Drilling Program, the Aggregate Strategy and the Health Department s Food Policy Council Feasibility Report. Other Agencies HAAC heard a presentation from Susan Coverdale, City of Hamilton, regarding the City of Hamilton Economic Development initiatives in support of the agricultural sector in the City and Mike Schreiner and Chris Alward, Local Food Plus who certify locally grown agricultural producers and provides a service to connect producers with consumers of this produce. The committee also heard from Melissa Watkins from the Ontario Farmland Trust who provided insight into the goals and objectives of the Trust and who also discussed opportunities in Halton for the long term protection of Farmland. Ontario s Clean Water Act, approved in 2006, mandated the formation of Source Protection Committees, three of which would be active in parts of Halton Region. These Committees were of significant interest to HAAC as many of the Committees activities could be expected to

4 impact agricultural practices. HAAC will continue to monitor this initiative and provide advice to the Region on the impact of this Act on agricultural interests. Consultation on Development Applications Application Applicant Location HAAC Comment Status NEC proposed amendment for Agriculture Only Lots NEC Throughout the NEP area HAAC Motion: HAAC is not in support of the agriculture only lot amendment as proposed by the NEC. NEC Policy review on Filling, Grading and Excavating Site Alteration Proposed Plan of Subdivision (File No. 24T /H) Application for Consent to Sever Lands (File No. B07.010/H) NEC Al Pilutti (Esquesing Developments Ltd.) Dean DePaoli Throughout the NEP area Sixth Line, Part Lots 19 and 20, Concession 7 (Halton Hills) 15 th Side Road, Part Lot 16, Concession 7 (Halton Hills) Infrastructure Interests HAAC Position: There should be some flexibility for agricultural operations in the requirements of fill material. HAAC Motion: HAAC would like the applicants (Al Pilutti Esquesing Developments Ltd.) to have an Agricultural Impact Assessment performed on the subject property. HAAC would like a letter sent to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food to request reconfirmation of their comments on this. HAAC Motion: That we are against this proposal as it leaves the good market garden land to the west of the CNR track inaccessible to the lands to be retained. HAAC reviewed and provided comments on the proposed Class EA for the reconstruction of the 20 th Side Road in Milton, the Class EA for the Alternate Water Supply for Milton and the Class EA for the Washburn Pumping Station upgrades. Sandy Grant and Don Rowntree were named to participate as HAAC representatives to the Stakeholders Group for the Halton-Peel Boundary Area Transportation Study. Agricultural Business Development HAAC members had productive discussion throughout the year with the Business Development Department on providing course that would benefit the agricultural sector in Halton. Business Development agreed to work with HAAC and other agricultural associations to build on the existing courses already provided by OMAFRA and other agencies. HAAC members were consulted on the proposed 2009 update to the brochure A Guided Tour of Halton Farms.

5 HAAC heard and provided feedback regularly on work being undertaken by the GTA Agricultural Action Plan Committee and the Regional Working Group for the GTA Agricultural Action Plan. Information and Education The 2008 Farm Tour, held on September 18, featured a look at the diversity of the agricultural sector in Halton. Tour stops included the Fisher Farm in Burlington where Jamie Fisher and his family operate a highly sophisticated hay operation, Rolland Farms in Milton which is the largest producer of mushrooms in Canada, and the Chudleigh Processing facility in Milton, which shows the supply chain advantages from processing that which is produced in Halton for sale throughout the world. HAAC Representation on other Committees HAAC representatives were named to participate in Committees established for the following additional projects: Lance Pocock represented HAAC on the Halton Waste Management Site Advisory Councillor Barry Lee, Councillor Clark Somerville and Lance Pocock were named to participate as HAAC representatives; and John Opsteen was named to represent the Community At Large on the Agricultural Community Development Fund Review Stephen Baker represented HAAC at the Technical Advisory Committee on Water, the Food Council and the Regional Transportation Advisory Glenn Powell represents HAAC on the Source Water Protection Sandy Grant and Don Rowntree represent HAAC on the GTA West Corridor Advisory Don Rowntree represents HAAC on the Technical Advisory Committee for the Regional Aggregate Strategy. People During 2008 HAAC member participation was very stable. Megan Krueger a Halton Region Federation of Agriculture representative stepped down from the committee sighting an opportunity in the equine industry in the United States. Councillor Clark Somerville, who is Regional Council s Representative on HAAC, provided key direction and guidance throughout the year. Senior Planner Stirling Todd is the Staff Liaison to HAAC and assisted the committee in conveying their thoughts to Council and facilitated information sharing between HAAC and all Regional Departments. Glenna Phillips and Alana Fulford provided support services to the Committee as Liaison Technician throughout the year.