Black inquires about effects of urban sprawl, land-use planning
OTTAWA – Ontario Senator Rob Black tabled and spoke to a Senate inquiry regarding land use in Canada.
In his tabling speech, Black noted a serious concern for Canada’s valuable farmlands slowly being reduced, an Oct. 5 press release states.
The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry is currently conducting a study on Canada’s soil.
In the ongoing study, the release states, statistics, data compilation and research has illustrated issues facing Canada’s soils, as well as the negative effects of urban sprawl and land-use planning by degrading and eating up prime farmland.
Land-use planning falls under provincial jurisdiction, but the release states “it is imperative that we protect our farmlands and production capacities. We need to cohesively collaborate amongst federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to address the challenges we face in securing our food supply, both domestically and globally.”
“This collaboration will also help with future land planning, development and urban sprawl,” Black stated.
He anticipates hearing discussion as the inquiry advances in coming months.
