Farmers force Ford to backtrack on farmland loss

May 31, 2023

QUEEN'S PARK — Ontario Greens leader and MPP for Guelph Mike Schreiner released the following statement after the Ford government bowed to opposition from farmers and abandoned its plan to sever farm lots.

“Ontario farmers have been clear in their opposition to the Ford government’s plan to pave over our prime farmland.

Thanks to their strong action to protect our $50-billion food and farming sector, the government has dropped its plan to allow lot severances on farms.

This is a big win for farmers. But to truly protect our prime farmland – some of the best in North America – the Ford government needs to go so much further.

The government’s ongoing attacks on responsible planning are designed to open the floodgates to unchecked sprawl, further depleting our already dwindling farmland while doing little to solve the housing crisis.

Ontario Greens will continue to stand with local leaders fighting to protect prime farmland.

And we’ll continue to push the Ford government to walk back on their destructive, expensive sprawl agenda and commit to building homes we can afford in communities we want to live in.”

-30-