CFA submitted a response to the federal Public Consultation on the Future Uses of the Pickering Lands, raising serious concerns about the permanent loss of prime farmland in one of Canada’s fastest‑growing regions.
Key points highlighted by CFA:
- Farmland loss is accelerating across Canada, with over 5 million hectares lost since 2001, much of it near major urban centres where land is most productive and vital for local food supply.
- The Pickering Lands include high‑quality Class 1 soil, representing less than 0.5% of Canada’s total land base, with about 87% currently leased and actively farmed.
- These lands are a rare, contiguous block of prime farmland, strategically located near Canada’s largest urban market, supporting short supply chains, lower emissions, and stronger regional food security.
- CFA emphasized that farmland is a finite, irreplaceable resource and that decisions made now will affect food production for generations.
CFA’s main recommendations included:
- The federal government should establish a mandatory Agricultural Impact Assessment (AIA) for all major federal land‑use decisions, similar to Ontario’s approach.
- An AIA would ensure agricultural impacts are fully considered alongside environmental reviews.
- It would assess cumulative farmland loss, impacts on food security, climate goals, and rural economies.