COMMUNITY

Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Agri-Business (OMAFA) -

Minister Rob Flack

The County of Brant met with Minister Flack to advocate for the proposed Provincial Planning Statement (released April 2024) to clearly define Agricultural Impact Assessments, which are used to assess whether farmland that is proposed to be converted to nonagricultural use is suitable for conversion or deemed to be protected as prime agricultural land as required by the proposed Provincial Planning Statement Having a clearly defined Agricultural Impact Assessment study would enable the County to have teeth when it comes to protecting farmland from requests for urban boundary expansions and non-agricultural usage applications in our prime agricultural lands. The County also requested that municipalities be consulted on defining the criteria for an Agricultural Impact Assessment study

The province released its finalized Provincial Planning Statement on Tuesday, announced by Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Paul Calandra This Provincial Planning Statement still does not have specifics on the Agricultural Impact Assessment, so far as I could determine looking through the document. However, our Planning department will be providing a fulsome update on the context and implications of the document later this year Minister Flack did inform us during our delegation that they intend to consult municipalities in the coming months on the Agricultural Impact Assessment specifically, and we will be eagerly awaiting the opening of that consultation period.

Ministry of Health (MoH)Parliamentary Assistant, MPP Anthony Leardi

The County of Brant had its delegation with Parliamentary Assistant Leardi to request the Ministry of Health support in moving the Brant Community Healthcare System to the next stage of planning for the new Brantford General Hospital and Willett Urgent Care Centre Specifically, the County requested the Brant Community Healthcare System immediately receive the remaining $8 5 million needed to finish the next planning stage, and that the development of the new hospital be included in Ontario’s 2025 budget. Following the County delegation with PA Leardi, the City of Brantford held a delegation with the Minister of Health, Sylvia Jones, to continue the conversation and reinforce the need our community has for a new hospital. Working in lock-step on messaging with the City and the Brant Community Healthcare System, we are optimistic following both delegations that the Ministry of Health is well aware of the importance of this matter

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Pictured left to right: Councillor Chris Van Paassen (Norfolk County), Councillor Jennifer Kyle, Councillor Bernia Martin (City of Woodstock), Ontario Greens Leader Mike Schreiner, MPP

Aislynn Clancy, Councillor Lukas Oakley