THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF PEEL PEEL AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY WORKING GROUP MINUTES PAAWG

Transcription

1 -1- THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF PEEL PEEL AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY WORKING GROUP MINUTES PAAWG The Peel Agricultural Advisory Working Group (PAAWG) met on March 6, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. in the Brampton / Caledon Room, Regional Administrative Headquarters, 10 Peel Centre Drive, Suite A, Brampton. Members Present: Heather Laidlaw, Acting Chair (Representative for Peel Federation of Agriculture); Regional Councillor Allan Thompson; Tom Dolson (Representative for Peel Federation of Agriculture); Karen Hutchinson (Caledon Countryside Alliance Delegate); Randy McLeod (Caledon Agricultural Advisory Committee Delegate); Gary Mountain (Peel Soil and Crop Improvement Association Delegate); Ludwik Lipowski (Citizen-at-large); Members Absent: Region of Peel Chair Emil Kolb (Ex-Officio); Regional Councillor Patti Foley; Darlene Downey (Youth Member Representative); Brian Ellsworth (Citizen-at-large); David Lyons (Citizen-at-Large) Also Present: Mark Head (Manager, Region of Peel); Melanie Williams (Principal Planner, Region of Peel); Kelly Crawford (Junior Planner, Region of Peel); Mark Eastman (Program Coordinator, Credit Valley Conservation); Nadine Abrams (Rural Clean Water Program Coordinator, Toronto and Region Conservation); Ben Roberts (Economic Development Officer, Town of Caledon); Ohi Izirein (Policy Planner, Town of Caledon); Tim Manley (Policy Planner, Town of Caledon); Learie Miller (Advisor, Region of Peel); Adaoma Patterson (Region of Peel); Craig Orrell (Region of Peel); Carolyn Bailey (EcoSource); Stephanie Crocker (EcoSource) 1) Presentation: New tax credit for donations of agriculture products (Bill 36) and Peel Region Food Charter Adaoma Patterson, Region of Peel & Peel Poverty Strategy s Food Task Force Craig Orrell, Region of Peel & Peel Poverty Strategy s Food Task Force Carolyn Bailey, EcoSource & Peel Poverty Strategy s Food Task Force New tax credit for donations of agriculture products (Bill 36) Through the Ontario Local Food Act, Bill 36 amends the Taxation Act, 2007 to provide a non-refundable tax credit to eligible Ontario farmers who donate certain agricultural products that they have produced to Ontario food access

2 -2- PAAWG centres. The tax credit is 25% of the wholesale value of the donated agricultural products. PAAWG discussed: How fair market value would be determined. Logistical challenges of coordinating donations on a larger scale due to the lack of centralized infrastructure in Peel. PAAWG stressed that any pickups for donation should be well coordinated (i.e. one bulk pick-up instead of multiple smaller ones) and timely. However, it was also noted that the small number of farms in Peel poses significant challenges to the creation of any sort of larger effort, so collaboration and creativity are critical. That the 25% credit would not cover the basic costs of picking for commodities such as apples and squash. It was suggested that Peel s food access centres could adopt a local food purchasing policy so that a portion of their food comes directly from Peel farmers. Arrangements could then be made for aggregated pick-up from central locations such as the Ontario Food Terminal, since farmers are already delivering product there. This would establish a partnership between the food access centres and farms throughout the season, rather than just a one-time donation. PAAWG also suggested the development of strategic partnerships to produce product specifically for food access centres. For example, the provision of wheat at a reduced rate for a processor to make and provide a product to a food access centre at a special price. This would support the food access centres outside of the growing season. Peel Region Food Charter As a part of the Peel Poverty Reduction Strategy, a Food Task Force has been established. Through the Task Force, the Region of Peel has committed to developing a food charter that articulates Peel's commitment to creating a food secure community. The objective of the Peel Food Charter is to create a food system that meets the needs of all Peel residents, with the following outcomes: Improved policies that result in a more food secure community. More accurate local data on emergency food need and food security in Peel. Increased capacity of food programs to meet the community's need. Increased capacity and diversity of food security programs that go beyond the provision of food. The Food Task Force is hosting a series of consultations throughout the spring as well as a questionnaire, to look at Peel s food system needs from production to consumption to waste. The Task Force spoke to PAAWG on how

3 -3- PAAWG it could consult with Peel s agricultural community to engage them in the consultation and Charter process. 2) Welcome and opening remarks The meeting was called to order at 8:04 p.m. by Heather Laidlaw, Acting Chair. 3) Approval of Agenda Moved by Karen Hutchinson, Seconded by Ludwik Lipowski; That the agenda for the Peel Agricultural Advisory Working Group meeting held on March 6, 2014 be approved. Carried PAAWG ) Approval of Meeting Minutes Moved by Gary Mountain, Seconded by Randy McLeod; That the Minutes from the Peel Agricultural Advisory Working Group meeting held on November 27, 2013, be approved. Carried PAAWG ) Introduction of new Citizen-at-Large and PFA Representative David Lyons was introduced as the new Citizen-at-Large and Tom Dolson as the new Peel Federation of Agriculture, representatives. 6) Appointments a) Appointment of Chair and Vice-Chair Moved by Randy McLeod, Seconded by Gary Mountain; That Heather Laidlaw be appointed as Chair of PAAWG, for the remainder of the 2014 Term of Council Carried PAAWG

4 -4- PAAWG Moved by Heather Laidlaw, Seconded by Randy McLeod; That Gary Mountain be appointed as Vice-Chair of PAAWG, for the remainder of the 2014 Term of Council. Carried PAAWG b) Appointment of Grown in Peel Advisory Group Member The Grown in Peel Advisory Group has a vacant position to be filled by a member of the agricultural community. PAAWG s PFA representatives agreed to appoint a new member out of the PFA members listed in the 2014 Grown in Peel Guide. The list of 2014 participants will be circulated to PFA representatives at the May 2014 PAAWG meeting. 7) Presentation: Introduction to the Region of Peel and Town of Caledon s 2015 Provincial Plans Review Learie Miller, Region of Peel Tim Manley, Town of Caledon In 2015, the Province will be conducting a comprehensive review of the Greenbelt, Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation and Niagara Escarpment Plans. To prepare comments to the Province on these Plans, the Town is undertaking consultation with landowners to address: What are the Plans and are they achieving what they re meant to be achieving? How easy are the Plans to use and apply? Is there consistency and alignment between Plans? The Town began its review on the Plans in 2013 and further public consultation will be undertaken starting in spring The Region hosted a preliminary meeting with the Province and Area Municipalities in February At this meeting Provincial staff indicated that the Provincial scope for the review had not been finalized. The Province is meeting with municipalities to understand and find specific examples of current issues and problems that they have encountered. In providing initial comments to the Province the Region will rely on its prior experience of working with the Plans. As well, coordinate consultation with area municipalities such as Caledon. In addition, Regional staff will incorporate specific feedback from stakeholder groups such as the PFA and PAAWG, where they may have established positions on these Plans. PAAWG provided the following comments:

5 -5- PAAWG There should be consistency in agriculture and agriculture related policies and definitions across the Greenbelt, the Niagara Escarpment and the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plans. The role of the Niagara Escarpment Commission should be reviewed to avoid overlap / redundancy between planning authorities. Land use restrictions relating to municipal infrastructure and recreation should be evaluated and addressed. A planning approval appeal process should be included in the Niagara Escarpment and the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plans. Policies should be flexible to reflect the different rural and near-urban contexts amongst the municipalities across the Greenbelt. Policies should be more supportive of conventional farmers to provide a better balance between the interests of the farming community and other stakeholders. Agricultural organizations, such as the PFA, have also begun their review of the Greenbelt Plan. This review will provide examples of barriers that Peel s agricultural community has encountered due to the Greenbelt Plan. It was requested that the PFA provide these examples to the Town and Region during the consultation process. 8) Communication Items i. Peel Growth Management Workshop The Region of Peel will be hosting a workshop on growth management in Peel Region as a part of its five year review of the Regional Official Plan. The workshop will take place on March 24, 2014, Novotel Hotel, Mississauga. Councillor Thompson arrived i. Region of Peel and Town of Caledon Employment Survey The Region of Peel and the Town of Caledon will be conducting an employment survey throughout the summer of The information collected will help to improve communications between municipalities and agricultural businesses. ii. LEAR / MDS Public Information Open House The Land Evaluation and Area Review (LEAR) and Minimum Distance Separation (MDS) public information open house will take place at 7pm on April 3, 2014, Brampton Fairgrounds, Caledon. Notice will be circulated through Caledon newspapers, PAAWG, PFA, and other stakeholders. Next steps include a commenting period and further consultation with stakeholders and landowners. Outcomes of the Public Information Open

6 -6- PAAWG House will be provided at a future meeting of the PAAWG LEAR Review Committee. iii. Memo on final changes to the Peel Rural Water Quality Program Regional Council approved the revised Peel Rural Water Quality Program guidelines on February 27, PAAWG s comments on cover crops and milkhouse washwater from the November 2013 meeting have been addressed through content rewording to clarify eligibility requirements, specifically that: priority will be given to crops with steeply sloping fields (greater than or equal to 4%) over nearby watercourses (within 200m); and, repairs and maintenance of milkhouse washwater systems will only be eligible if installed as a part of an upgrade resulting in improvements to the environmental performance of the overall system. The new guidelines will be circulated to PAAWG members and available on the Region and Conservation Authority s websites. iv. OSCIA On-Farm Corn Trials Pilot Ontario Soil & Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA), in cooperation with OMAF and the University of Guelph is looking for farmers across Ontario to participate in pilot of field-scale corn comparisons of neonicotinoid versus non-neonicotinoids. v. Request for Information on Region of Peel Development Charges Moved by Randy McLeod, Seconded by Gary Mountain; That Region of Peel financial policy staff consider the new Provincial Policy Statement definitions for agriculture, agriculture-related and on-farm diversified uses in future reviews of the Region s development charges bylaw. Carried PAAWG vi. Growing Careers Program- Ontario Agri-Food Education Inc. Ontario Agri-Food Education Inc. (OAFE) is a non-profit, registered charity devoted to bringing agri-food perspectives into the classroom. OAFE has developed GrowingCareers.ca, a website dedicated to providing tools for both educators and students to explore career opportunities in the agriculture and agri-food sectors.

7 -7- PAAWG PAAWG suggested the development of a program where youth create innovative ideas related to agriculture (similar to the engineering based popsicle stick bridge building challenge). vii. Good Food Conference- Chicago The Good Food Conference being held March 14, 2014, in Chicago will host a session on Ancient and Heirloom Grains with a focus on how to improve local production and marketing. 9) Adjourn Meeting/ Next Meeting The meeting stood adjourned at 9:40 pm. The next Peel Agricultural Advisory Working Group meeting will be held on May 22, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.