Planners and farm groups pleased with provincial decision to not allow severances

Jun 09, 2023

Farm organizations and planning officials are pleased the Ontario government has backed down on a controversial part of its effort to accelerate residential development across the province.

The new Provincial Planning Statement (PPS) and Bill 97, the Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act proposes a series of amendments to the Planning Act, including allowing up to three lots to be severed from designated agricultural properties for residential development. Ontario’s three main farm organizations, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), the National Farmers Union-Ontario (NFU-O), and the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO) had formed a united opposition to the proposals.

On May 30, the provincial government announced it was removing the three-lot severance provision from the new PPS and would be extending the public consultation period on the new document, which will serve as the guiding policy for municipal and regional planners across the province for land use planning and development.

A joint statement from the OFA, NFU-O, CFFO, and several commodity organizations welcomed the government’s decision.

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Video: We’ll NEVER Use These Grain Bins Again!

A huge change is happening on the farm — our new grain bin has officially arrived, and that means we’ll never use some of our old grain bins again. In today's video, we take delivery of the new grain bin, look back at the old bins that have been part of our farm for years, and talk about why this upgrade is such a big deal for harvest, grain storage, and the future of our family farm.

This is more than just a grain bin delivery. It’s the end of an era and the start of a major farm upgrade that will completely change how we handle corn during harvest. From old grain storage to a brand-new bin setup, this project is one of the biggest improvements we’ve made at the farm.

Join me as the new grain bin shows up, the bin project continues, and we prepare for a new chapter in harvest efficiency on our Minnesota family farm.