Greens propose shield for Ontario farmland

The Ontario Green Party is proposing to create what it’s calling the “Ontario Foodbelt,” similar to the Ontario Greenbelt, to protect arable farmland in Ontario.

The move comes in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's election and tariff threats, which could spark retaliatory tariffs that would increase the cost of imports from the U.S. While the 25 per cent tariffs are temporarily on pause until March, Trump has continued to put tariffs on other goods, such as Canadian steel. As a result, Canadians are being encouraged to buy local food, including produce.

  Farmland is a non-renewable resource and should be protected, said Bronwynne Wilton is a Green Party candidate in Wellington-Halton Hills, explaining the rationale behind the party’s Grow Ontario Plan announced earlier this month.

“We need to take more care in terms of our urban planning and our urban development that we're not sprawling onto these valuable farmlands,” Wilton said, adding that the protections should span all classes of agricultural land. Even agricultural land that isn’t suitable for growing edible crops can often be used as pasture land and should be protected, she added.

Jenn Pfenning, president of the National Farmers Union, echoed the sentiment. Canada has a scarcity of arable farmland so it makes sense to protect the land in ways that allow for convergent growth, Pfenning said.

“[Protecting farmland] doesn't have to be at odds with our housing, our need for jobs and industry and manufacturing and all of that, we can protect farmland and have good jobs and good places to live. It just requires thinking about farmland and food as a priority first,” she added.

Ontario imports about $10 billion more in food than it exports. According to the Neptis foundation, only five per cent of Canadian land is considered prime farmland, with half a percent being Class 1. Class 1 is meant to be Canada's best farmland, where crops can grow uninhibited and the soil itself has no limitations. However, most Class 1 soil is located in southern Ontario, where urban growth is a major concern. 

Pfenning said there are economic pressures on farmers, many of whom are older and can’t find viable exit strategies.

“We can't be surprised if farmers are selling to developers,” Pfenning said, adding that land needs to be accessible for younger generations of farmers. An economic shift, she says, is key, but both Pfenning and Wilton agreed consumers can help by choosing carefully where to spend their money. They encourage people to buy local fruit when it's seasonal and support local farms.

“Keeping food closer to the consumers and food production closer to consumers is important. So I think that is always part of it in terms of how we can be innovative and sustainable in the agri food system across the province,” Wilton said.

Local food production helps to lower carbon emissions. Transportation made up 22 per cent of Canada’s emissions in 2022, an important issue where food security is concerned.

Tony MacQuail agrees. The former owner of Meeting Place Organic Farm, he sold the farm to his daughter eight years ago. As a member of the Board of Directors of Farmers for Climate Solutions, MacQuail says it’s important to preserve farmland close to urban areas.

“You aren't dependent on long supply chains where the food originates somewhere at a distance which has to be transported and processed to get to your consumers which can be a real, real risk during climate change,” MacQuail said, adding that climate change has also affected Canadian agriculture in different ways, particularly affecting the growing season.

“On the one hand, you think if the climate's warming, it'll be easier to grow stuff in Canada, because we think of ourselves as cold. Climate change isn't just about the planet getting warmer. It's also about weather patterns and systems being disrupted and not performing the way we're used to,” MacQuail added.

With rising controversy surrounding Canadian grocery providers and the threat of tariffs from the U.S., McQuail and Pfenning both emphasize that Canadian farms can help provide food security in turbulent times.

“Buying directly from farmers and buying in bulk can reduce the cost of a meal,” McQuail said, adding that a producers’ farmers market can also be a great way to support local agricultural production facilities. McQuail, whose farm is in Lucknow, Ont., said his daughter now has customers extending all the way to Toronto.

 Pfenning said in a perfect world, Canadians should be  able to feed themselves without relying on imported goods

“Food sovereignty is sovereignty. You cannot have a sovereign nation without being able to feed yourself, and that is a situation we have allowed to make us vulnerable to the kinds of attacks we're seeing against our sovereignty right now,” Pfenning says.