We are pleased to release our contribution to Envision Durham, the 2019 Municipal Comprehensive Review of Durham Region’s Official Plan – specifically, the Review’s “Climate Change and Sustainability Discussion Paper.”
Agriculture
North Pickering Farms GIS Map
The Remaining Federal Lands: A Vision of the Future In 2017, Heather Rigby, a member of Land Over Landings, created an illustrated vision of what the remaining Pickering Federal Lands, rebranded as ‘North Pickering Farms‘, could look like in a future where the federal government returns those lands to agricultural production. In 2018, the Boussole Environmental […]
City of Pickering ready to “embrace” airport!
The City of Pickering “embraces” an airport on farmland! Join us in telling our MPs that we do NOT. In a move described as ‘sneaky’ and ‘underhanded’, this week council broke with 45 years of history and declared itself in favour of the proposed Pickering airport. The recommendation in support of an airport was buried in a bid […]
FEDS TO EXTEND FARM LEASES ON LANDS
Today, Transport Canada announced that, on April 1, 2018, farm leases on the remaining Pickering Lands will become 10-year leases instead of the 1-year version that has been in place for over 4 decades. This is a significant development, and we’re excited that the government has begun to move on this file. But we’re also […]
Getting closer to our goal!
WE’RE AT 70% OF OUR GOAL!! WOW!!! There’s no better word to describe the overwhelming support we’ve received in just six weeks! Our sincere thanks to individuals like you who have brought us so close to our goal in such a short time. And our special thanks to Margaret Atwood for her generous $1,000 matching gift – which was matched within hours.
Ag Study Fundraising Campaign Update!
We’re thrilled to announce that, thanks to the overwhelming support of our partners, members, and community, we’ve reached the halfway mark of our fundraising campaign in just over two weeks! These donations send a clear message to our governments that the community wants this study of an alternative vision for the Federal Lands.
Climate Change MIA In Polonsky Report
Yesterday, Nov. 28, Transport Canada quietly released Dr Gary Polonsky’s report , “Jets & Jobs”, on possible future uses of the remaining Federal Lands. In a document rife with predictions, assumptions, and plans, “climate change” isn’t mentioned once, although it formed a major part of our submission. What the report does do is briefly summarize what its author heard from five stakeholder groups – business, government, agriculture/conservation, aviation, First Nations – in interviews around a series of set questions that took for granted an eventual airport on the remaining Lands.
OFA Releases New Mission: Farms and Food Forever!
Now, where were we before all that municipal business came up…? Oh yes, saving the best farmland in Canada from an unnecessary airport! We’re so please to see that the new mission of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture echoes our own longstanding message: “Farmland Forever! Airport Never!”. We look forward to continuing to work together with farmers to save Ontario’s best farmland.