Forum to address farmland protection in advance plan reviews

February 19, 2014 · 0 Comments

Farmers, planners, policy makers and elected officials are invited to Guelph March 7 for the Ontario Farmland Trust’s 10th annual Farmland Forum: Toward Permanent Land Protection in an Evolving Policy Environment.
Participants will have the opportunity to share their insights and recommendations to help inform upcoming Provincial Greenbelt and Growth Plan reviews. After nearly 10 years working through the implementation of these plans, there is the question as to whether communities more effectively curbing urban sprawl and protecting Ontario’s agricultural lands?
“This event is an opportunity for discussion among all stakeholders about the impact of various policy approaches taken to date — their successes and shortcomings — and how we work together to bring lasting, long-term protection to Ontario’s agricultural land base,” commented Farmland Trust Board Chair Norman Ragetlie.
The public forum will also present an opportunity to learn about new ideas, tools and approaches being piloted and applied by innovative organizations and municipal leaders throughout Ontario.
Forum speakers will include keynote Kevin Eby from Waterloo Region Planning; Adam Redish of the Ontario Growth Secretariat; Marcy Burchfield of the Neptis Foundation; Wayne Caldwell of the University of Guelph School of Environmental Design and Rural Development; Peter Lambrick of the Greater Golden Horseshoe Food and Farming Alliance; and Kathy Macpherson from the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation, among others.
Farmland Forum partners include the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation and the University of Guelph’s School of Environmental Design and Rural Development.
For more information on the 2014 Farmland Forum, visit www.ontariofarmlandtrust.ca