2006:02PU PROTECTING PRIME FARMLANDS IN CANADA
Whereas:
- 74.3 Land Use and Land Use Planning Study policy called for an NCWC study “Land Use and Land Use Planning” to be prepared for presentation to the ICW Triennial in Vancouver; and
- 77.6 Land Use Planning for Canada called for all levels of government to ensure future production of agricultural products, by creating rational zoning for land with high potential for agricultural production; 82. Land Use and Land Use Planning called for the Provincial and Local Councils of Women to urge their respective governments to establish independent Agricultural Resource and Land Use Conservation boards to ensure that short-term pressures on prime land are balanced by long-term concern for food supply using the following means:
- Enact legislation restricting land use according to soil value
- Develop programs of public awareness concerning land use
- Transit policy called for a limit to urban sprawl…planning for development of housing close to workplaces, and public transportation, mixed-use zoning, and discouragement of low-density housing.
Whereas:
- Very little of Canada’s land is suitable for agriculture, and urbanization has resulted in a significant loss of prime farmlands in Canada over many years; and
- In the past, Canada has shown concern for protecting and conserving prime farmland to protect food supplies and, until 1984, monitored the loss of prime farmlands; and
- Some federal government infrastructure policies and investments have been directed to urban intensification, with an emphasis on environmentally sustainable municipal infrastructure that results in cleaner air, cleaner water, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions but are not specifically directed at prime farmland retention, and some could encourage sprawl; and
- Across Canada, there is 30 years’ worth of land for new housing within built-up areas and designated growth areas; and restricting urban sprawl protects prime farmland and provides fiscal and environmental benefits of providing infrastructure and services for concentrated populations;
Therefore be it Resolved:
- That the National Council of Women of Canada adopt as policy that prime farmland be protected and that government policy and investments discourage urban sprawl and promote intensification;
- That the National Council of Women of Canada urge the Government of Canada to monitor the loss of prime farmland and ensure that its policies, programs, and investments will help all levels of government support sustainable urban intensification and discourage sprawl and highways and other urban uses that will destroy prime farmlands;
- That the National Council of Women of Canada urge its Provincial and Local Councils of Women to encourage provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to support urban intensification projects; discourage sprawl and the building of new highways and other urban uses on prime farmlands.