Environmental assessments must measure impact on ag

By Brent Royce, Director, OFA

To The Haldimand Press

The provincial government recently released a discussion paper – Modernizing Ontario’s Environmental Assessment Program – as they consider changes to the Environmental Assessment Act. The government has asked for public input on the proposed vision for the environmental assessment program based on the discussion paper.

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) has provided a formal submission with an overriding message – agriculture must be consulted and considered in any public sector project that could impact our farms and businesses.

We support the overall need to review legislation to remove duplication and find efficiencies. But we must also be sure that in the process we don’t lose sight of the purpose of the legislation. One of the core principles of the environmental assessment process is that it considers all aspects of the environment, including natural, social, economic, cultural, and build conditions. OFA believes any changes to the Environmental Assessment Act must retain this core principal.