Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) chair Brendan Byrne, left, and Crosby Devitt, GFO CEO, discuss issues such as carbon tax exemptions, fertilizer tariffs, increasing input and inflation costs, and concerns about agriculture land protection.

GFO members bring land planning and protection concerns to annual meeting

Fertilizer and carbon tax relief remain ongoing issues

Grain farmer concerns on land use and planning gained traction against ongoing fertilizer pricing and carbon tax issues. Brendan Byrne, Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) chair, and CEO Crosby Devitt fielded questions on what measures the organization was taking toward agricultural land protection and intensification planning to address increasing housing pressure during the organization’s annual […] Read more

Premier Doug Ford announced the cancellation of the development of 9,400 acres of land that had been proposed for housing in the Greenbelt, a protected area in Ontario.

Ford backtracks on Greenbelt development

9,400 additional acres to remain in Greenbelt after public, agriculture backlash

“It was a mistake to open the Greenbelt.” With that, Premier Doug Ford pledged to reverse the changes to Greenbelt and promised no future changes.  “I made a promise to you I would not touch the Greenbelt. I broke that promise,” he said during the Sept. 21 press conference in Niagara Falls. “And for that, […] Read more

How will municipalities handle housing?

How will municipalities handle housing?

Confusion reigns as province pushes flurry of development policy changes

The Ontario government has made a series of policies over the past year that will alter the trajectory of development. By opening the Greenbelt and other farmland, reclassifying wetlands, reducing density targets and allowing municipalities to expand beyond established urban limits, Doug Ford’s government says it aims to encourage speedy housing construction. Some say these […] Read more

What Premier Doug Ford's Progressive Conservative government has touted as necessary legislation to build the province’s economy has caused concern from First Nations, opposition parties and Ontario citizens.

Editorial: Smoke and mirrors

Do more with less” is without a doubt the overarching theme for Canadian agriculture in 2022.  Although that exact phrase may not always be used, its sentiment has been consistent. Farmers and those working in the agriculture industry have been bombarded with information and commentary about how the climate is in crisis, and that they […] Read more


The government’s push to build more housing in the province will come at the expense of protected lands. Bill 23 will remove 7,400 acres from the Greenbelt and removes the ability of conservation authorities to work with municipalities on development planning.

Ontario government’s Bill 23 accelerates concern about loss of farmland

More Homes Built Faster Act will allow new house builds on protected lands

After four years of rolling back protective Greenbelt legislation, the Ontario government’s More Homes Built Faster Act is opening acres for urban development. The Greenbelt was established in 2005 to protect environmentally sensitive lands and farmland from urban development but the recently announced act, known as Bill 23, will remove 7,400 acres from protection.  Wayne […] Read more