The Rural Voice, 2002-09, Page 74BRUCE
Email: bruce@ofa.on.ca
website: www.ofa on.calbruce
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
446 10th St., Hanover, Ontario N4N 1 P9
519-364-3050 or 1-800-275-9551
• The Rural Voice is provided to Bruce
County Farmers by the BCFA.
Smart Growth Panel tries to manage growth
By Jayne Dietrich
BCFA President
The Western Ontario Smart Growth
Panel has been announced by
Municipal Affairs and Housing
Minister Chris Hodgson, and consists
of a group of diverse individuals who
will look at growth in our towns. cities
and rural areas. In doing this it will
offer the ability to manage growth in
order to relieve stress on our
environment and also to secure needed
infrastructure such as roads, public
transit. water and sewer systems.
In order to properly meet the needs
of our communities the Smart Growth
Panel will be looking ahead 15 to 30
years and is a collaboration of many
groups. These groups include the
development. community, environ-
mental. agricultural and transportation
organizations, community groups,
public officials and citizens.
The western zone covers the
counties of Grey, Bruce. Huron,
Middlesex, Lambton, Chatham -Kent,
Essex. Elgin, Norfolk, Perth and
Oxford. There are five Smart Growth
Panels including central, eastern,
northwestern and northeastern.
Agriculture will be a key area in
this project as it is an integral part of
our province and especially this area
the breadbasket of western Ontario.
Farming practices in the area have
changed due to economics, demand
and technology. As well Ontario is
growing and will be home to almost
14 million people in 2015.
Recognizing that rural areas face the
very real challengeof diversifying
their economies while ensuring the
sustainability of the agri food industry.
One of the challenges Smart Growth
will be addressing is what the effect
on agricultur ein this area will bein
creating new prospects for youth in
rural communities.
The Smart Growth vision is also to
address growth challenges, while
looking at preserving natural areas,
BRUCE COUNTY FEDERATION OF
AGRICULTURE
DIRECTORS' MEETING
Monday, September 23, 2002 - 8:00 p.m.
Sprucedale Agromart
R.R. #2, Walkerton — 25th skieroad Brant
(north off of former Hwy #4 - east of Walkerton)
MEMBERS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND
70 THE RURAL VOICE
reducing traffic gridlock and
communicating the many
opportunities for growth that our
province offers.
The Smart Growth Panel will
provide advice on ways to help
agricultural, commercial and industrial
sectors continue to grow in a way that
is complementary to our rural
communities based on the following
six goals:
• Growing towards a better future -
co-ordinated approach to managing
and promoting sustainable growth
including all levels of government and
stakeholders
• Making more strategic decisions
about infrastructure - cleaning up and
redeveloping brownfield sites to create
new uses and reduce the need to build
on agricultural lands
• Improve competitiveness and
increase opportunity - an initiative
"Connect Ontario" will enable
communities to create jobs and attract
investment
• Create transportation choices -
goods need to be moved efficiently,
air pollution and gridlock needs to be
addressed
Bruce County farmers
can participate in Hay West.
See Grey Federation
Newsletter for details. ■
• Protect and enhance environment -
working to protect the quality of air,
land and water steering clear of
significant agricultural lands and
natural areas
• Build livable communities - a
priority will be building strong, safe,
attractive and vibrant communities
such as the pilot project in North
Wellington
The Smart Growth Panel in
Western Ontario will advise the
Minister of Municipal Affairs and
Housing on priority issues in our zone
and will also generate
recommendations for a Tong -term
growth strategy that will address our
unique opportunities and challenges.
During this year the panel will also.
consult with community leaders and
work with other panels on matters that
cross boundaries.0
BRUCE COUNTY FEDERATION OF
AGRICULTURE
61ST ANNUAL MEETING AND
BANQUET AND
OFA REGIONAL MEETING
Friday, October 25, 2002
Arran -Tara Community Centre
Social: 6:30 p.m. Dinner: 7.00 p.m.
Guest Speaker to be confirmed
NOTE: OFA Regional Directors, Delegates
and Alternates for OFA Convention,
BCFA Presidents and Township Directors
will be elected at the meeting.
NOMINATION FOR THE BCFA AWARD OF MERIT
"For Outstanding Contribution to Agriculture"
Each year the Bruce County Federation of Agriculture presents an Award to a person in Bruce
County who has made a significant contribution to the agriculture industry. 11 you have someone
you would like to nominate, please complete this form and return to our office in Hanover.
Nominations should be received at our office by October 18, 2002. The Award will be presented at
our Annual Meeting on Friday, October 25.
I nominate:
Reasons for nomination:
Signature:
Please return to:
Bruce County Federation of Agriculture, 446 10th Street, Hanover, ON N4N 1 P9
Fax: 519-364-4119 E-mail: bruce@ofa.on.ca
Or you may give your nomination to any Township Director