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446 - 1Oth Street, Hanover, Ontario N4N 1Pg

E-mail: grey@ofa.on.ca Website: www.ofa.on.calgrey

Phone:519-364-3050

March 16,2015
Township of Chatsworth,

A vibrant agricultural industry has been the mainstay of successful rural municipalities. Although as time has
passed farms have grown larger and farmers fewer, the economic impact of the agricultural industry has a vast multiplier
effect on the towns and cities of Ontario.
The agricultural and agri-food sectors are one ofthe provinces largest employers. Sustaining over 700 000 jobs,
percent of the population can trace their employment back to agriculture, and in rural Ontario this impact is crucial
to vibrant communities.
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Agriculture faces unique challenges and regulations. As a result many regions have adopted Agricultural
Advisory Committees to help local government ensure municipal by-laws and policies do not have unintended
consequences on agriculture and help local governments make informed decisions on by-laws and planning issues in
rural areas.
The regions of Durham and Halton have created Agricultural Advisory committee's as well as the Town of the
BIue Mountains.

Durham Region describes the committee's goals as to provide planning committee and staff advice on the

following:

lssues and concerns of the agricultural community

lmplementation of provincial and federal legislation, policies and guidelines related to the
agricultural industry
Agriculture and rural policydirections pursued bythe Region
ldentification and implementation of programs which encourage public awareness and education
ofagricultural and related rural issues.

The Grey County Federation of Agriculture would like encourage otler local municipalities in Grey County to
develop Agricultural Advisory Committees as a tool and resource for strong decision making. Furthermore, to ensure that
one of the county's most important industry continues to enjoy an environment to grow and prosper while mtigating
conflict.
The Grey County Federation of Agriculture would like to open the discussion with municipalities on the valuable role
these committees can play in your municipality and offer any and all assistance we can provide in their creation.

Sincerel

/12 4/--

RE-OENVED
MAR

Mike Ryan, President GCFA

20

2015

GREY COUNTY TEDERAION OT AGRICUTURG

Personalized Service with Membership

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Planning

STAFF REPORT:

REPORT TO:

Mayor & Members of Councll

MEETING DATE:

February 04,2008

REPORT NO.:

P1.08.04

SUBJECT:

Agrlcultural Advisory Committee

PREPARED BY:

PeterTollefsen,
Dlrector of Plannlng
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THAT Gouncll approve the Terms of Reference for an Agrlcultural Advisory

Committee as well as authorize staff to advertlse for volunteers.

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At the October '10,2007 Council meeting, Jacquie Hendry (Regional Director,

Ontario Federation of Agriculture) was a delegation and made a presentation
regarding the value of having an Agricultural Advisory Gommlttee to give the
Town input on agricultural issues.
The item was referred to staff which is the purpose of this report.
Staff see merit in having such a group as it would afford the Committee the ability
to comment on policy issues such as Minimum Distance Separation, Official Plan
and other Town matters affecting the rural area, such as rural economic
development, and it would give the municipality valuable input.

This Committee would provide advice to staff. The feedback would be used for
reports to Council. Attached to this report is the Proposed Terms of Reference for
an Agricultural Advisory Committee.

A maximum of eight (8) voluntary members who are appointed by Council, for a
term ending November 30, 2010, with a majority membership of five (5)
constituting a quorum. The Committee would meet periodically or at the call of
the Town when there are ilems requiring feedback on.

Page 1 of 5

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By reviewing nput on rural issues will enable the Town to plan and meet the
following goal:
"Managng Growth to ensure the ongong health and prosperty of the

communw'.
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Staff time would be involved in setting up the Gommittee and attending meetings.
Room rental required for meetings at approxmately seven (7) meetings.ln 2008
(hallrental@ aprox. $90.00 = $630.00). There are funds in the Planning.
bepartmentb oerating budget for meeting expenses (Account No. 62020).

1.

AgriculturalAdvisory Committee Terms of Reference

Respecttu lly subrn itted,

Peter Tollefsen, Director of Planning

26 Bridge Street, PO Box 310
Thornbury, ON NOH 2PO
Phone: 51 9-599-31 31 exl.247
Fax: 519-599-3018
E-mail: ptollefsen@thebluemountains.ca

Page 2

of

February 04,2008
AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY CO]IIIMITTEE OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS
TERMS OF REFERENCE

1.0

Goal

1.1

2.0

To identify, review, discuss and make recommendations to staff on

agricultural related issues.

Mandate

2.1 The Agricultural Advisory Committee of the Town of The Blue

Mountains (AAC) is a volunteer advisory committee established by
the Municipality in accordance with these Terms of Reference.
Committee members are bound by these Terms of Reference while
providing advice to the staff of the Town of The Blue Mountains.

2.2

Scope of Gommittee Actlvltles

The scope of the Gommittee shall include activities such as:

a)

Providing advice, comments and recommendations on issues

and concerns of farmers and agricultural organizations.

b)

Reviewing and commenting on proposed Otficial Plan Policy

and any Zoning By{aw Amendments that affect the agricultural
area.

c) ldentifying key issues of concern for farmers which can be

addressed by municipal government.

d) Providing advice, comments and recommendations

on
economic strategies, development plans or studies dealing with
agriculture and a wide range of other ruralissues.

e) Advising Town statf of changes and key issues within the

agricultural industry.

f) ldentifying and recommending

Page 3

ol

programs which encourage

public awareness, land stewardship and education of

agricultural and rural issues.

Committee Comoosltlon

3.1

The Agricultural Advisory Committee of the Town of The Blue

Mounlains shall consist of eight (8) voluntary members who are
appointed by Council for a term ending November 30, 2010' to
coincide with the term of Council. A majority of the membership,
five (5), shallconstitute a quorum.

9.2

Members of the Committee to be appointed should represent as

many of any of the following groups as possible:

a)
b)

c)
d)
e)

g)
h)

3.3

Grey Cattlemen's Association (1)

Georgian Bay Fruit Growers Association (1)
Christian Farmers (1)
National Farm Union (1)
Ontario Federation of Agriculture (1)
Young Farmers (1)
Organic farming (1)
Sheep ProducerlDairy Farmers (1)

The members shall possess expertisg, experience and willingness

to devote the necessary tme to the Committee. Members will be
selected to provide an appropriate representation of various
agricultural interests (dairy, beef, apple, tender fruit, greenhouse,
cash crops, commodity groups, etc.).

9.4

Openings for mernbership shall be publicly advertised. All of the

farming public and any nominated representative of an organization
involved in agricultural and rural issues are invited to apply.
Applicants must live in the Town and will submit the attached
application form to the Town of The Blue Mountains Clerks
Department. Applicants shall possess knowledge of agricultural

issues within The Blue Mountains and a Farm Business

Registraton (FBR) Number, preferable (but not mandtory)'

Applicants may also possess relevant farm experience, technical

training in an agriculture-based field, and/or current involvement in
agricultural activities. Members will be formally appointed by Town
Council.
Page 4

of 5

3.5

Resource People to Attend Meetings will include appropriate Town

statf.

3.6

A Ghair and Vice-chair shall be selected by the Committee

and

both must be a member of the Committee.

4.0

5.0

Meetlnos and Reoortino

4.1

The Town of The Blue Mountains shall schedule the location and
frequency of meetings. lt is anticipated an average of once a
month. Gommittee members, if absent for threE consecutive
meetings without a reason being given at least 24 hours in advance
of the meeting, will be considered to have lost interest n lhe
Gommittee and will be informed of his or her being removed from
the Gommittee. lf any member is removed from the Committee or
resigns from the Commttee, the Clerk of the Town of The Blue
Mountains shall be informed and a new member shall be
appointed by Council

4.2

The Committee, by resolution or through its Chair, may invite any

individual, interest group, agency or staff lo appear at a meeting as
a delegation or to submit or present information that will assist the
Committee in carrying out its mandate.

Communicatino with the Municioalitv

5.1

Recommendations from the Committee shall be submitted to

appropriate Town statf for inclusion in reports to Council.

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May 05,2008
AGRICULTURAL ADVSORY COMMITTEE OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS
REVISED . TER]IIIS OF REFERENGE
1.0

9pal

1.1

To identlff, review, dlscuss and make

recommendations

to staff on

agricultural related issues.

lllandatg

2.1

The Agricultural Advisory Gommittee of the Town of The Blue Mountalns

(AAC) is a volunteer advisory committee established by the Municipallty in
accordance with these Terms of Referenoe. Committee members are
bound by these Terms of Reference while providing advice to the staff of
the Town of The Blue Mountains.

2.2

Scope of Committee Activitles

The scope of the Committee shall include activities such as:

a) Providing advlce,
co

b)

comments and recommendatlons

ncems of farmers

on issues

and

nd ag ricu ltural orga nizations.

Reviewing and commenting on proposed Ofcial Plan Policy and any

Zoning By-law Amendments that affest the agricultural area.

c) ldentifying key issues of concem

for farmers which can be addressed

by municipal govemment.

recommendations on economic
plans
or studles deallng with agriculture and a
strategies, development
wide range of other rural issues.

d) Providing advice, comments and

e) Advising Town staff of changes and key issues within the agricultural
industry.

ldentifying and recommending programs which encourage public

awareness, land stewardship and education of agricultural and rural
issues.

3.0

Committee Gomposition

3.1

The Agricultural Advisory Committee of the Town of The Blue Mountains

shall conslst of eigfig ten (10) voluntary members who are appointed by
Council for a term ending November 30, 2010, to colnclde with the term of
Council. A majority of the membership, f,rre{5}.six (6) shall constitute a
quorum.

3.2

Members of the Gommittee to be appointed should represent as many of

any of the following groups as possible:

a) Grey Cattlemen's Association (1)

b) Georgian Bay Frult Growers Association (1)
c) Christian Farmers (1)
d) NationalFarm Union (1)
e) Ontario Federation of Agriculture (1)

g)
h)

3.3

Young Farmers (1)

Organicfarming (1)
Sheep Producers/Dairy Farmers (1)

The members shall possess expertise, experience and wllllngness to

devote the necessary time to the Committee. Members will be selec{ed to
provide an appropriate representation of various agricultural interests
(dairy, beef, apple, tender fruit, greenhouse, cash crops, commodity
groups, etc.).

3.4

Openings for membership shall be publicly advertised. All of the farming

public and any nominated representative of an organization inrolved in
agricuttural and rural issues are invited to apply. Applicants must live in
the Town and willsubmit the attached application form to ttre Town of The
Blue Mountains Clerks Department. Applicants shall possess knowledge
of agricultural issues within The Blue Mountains and a Farm Business
Registration (FBR) Number, preferable (but not mandatory). Applicants
may also possess relevant farm experience, technical training in an
agricultural
agriculture-based field, and/or current involvement
activities. Members will be formally appointed by Town Council.

in

3.5

Resource People to Attend Meetings will include appropriate Town staff.

3.6
4.O

A Chair and Vlce-chair shall be selected by the Gommittee and both must
be a memberof the Committee.

Meetinos and Reoortino

4,1

The Town of The Blue Mountains shall sohedule the location and
frequency of meetings. lt is anticipated en average of once a month.
Committee members, if absent for three consecutive meetings without a
reason being given at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, will be
considered to have lost lnterest ln the Gommittee and will be informed of
his or her being removed from the Gommittee. lf any member is removed
from the Committee or resigns from the Committee, the Clerk of the Town
of The Blue Mountains shall be informed and a new member shall be
appointed by Council.

t1

4.2

The Committee, by resolution or through its Chair, may invite any

individual, interest group, agency or staff to appear at a meeting as a
delegation or to submit or present information that will assist the
Commlttee in carrying out its mandate.

5.0

Communicatinq with the MunlclpallW

5.1

Recommendations from the Committee shall be submitted to appropriate

Town staff for inclusion in reports to Council.