Premier Doug Ford’s Conservative government has introduced Bill 97 that would allow up to three lot severances per farm.
It would reverse bans on severances for housing that have been adopted in many municipalities, including the Waterloo Region in 1973.
The Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario was the first general farm organization in Canada to call for a ban, noting that after lots were severed to build a retirement home for farm owners, after they died they were often bought by city people who objected to normal farming practices such as odours, noise and dust.
That prompted the province to enact the Normal Farm Practices Act and board to deal with the complaints.
Jan Pfenning, president of the Ontario branch of the National
Farmers Union who runs an organic farm between New Hamburg and Baden said the Ford government is wrong to believe this change will ease the housing shortage. She said planned development within urban boundaries is the better way.
Last year a Toronto developer wanted to use a Ministerial Order to develop a subdivision near the Pfenning farm. The developer backed down in the face of heavy opposition, including from the Waterloo Federation of Agriculture and Mark Reusser, at the time vice-chairman of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture.
Pfenning said real estate companies have been buying farms to lease back to farmers and said they have been waiting for this legislation so they can develop estate homes.
Bill 97 is called Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act.
