Latest news with #MikeSchreiner
CBC
19-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
2 MPPs have proposed an Ontario foodbelt. Could it help tariff-proof the ag sector?
Two MPPs have put forward the idea of creating a "foodbelt" in Ontario to protect farmland and help tariff-proof the agricultural sector in the province. The idea proposed by Guelph MPP and Green Party of Ontario Leader Mike Schreiner and independent MPP Bobbi Ann Brady, who represents Haldimand-Norfolk, this week at Queen's Park would see a protected area, similar to how the Greenbelt works, but in this case it would be specifically for farmers' fields. Bill 21, Protect Our Food Act, passed first reading on Tuesday. It's an idea Erin Shapero and Valerie Burke applaud. The two women proposed a similar idea in 2009 when they were city councillors in Markham and they wanted to protect farmland from developers. "At the time we had Ontario's Greenbelt, which was very popular and very successful, protecting a lot of farmland, protecting a lot of naturally sensitive areas, but a lot of farmland was left out of that," Shapero told CBC News. Shapero, who was also a member of the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance, says they spoke to academics and people in the agricultural community to develop their motion for the Markham foodbelt. "We proposed Canada's first foodbelt, that we actually have a protected area for growing food and ensuring that we have food for the future going forward," she said. After intensive public consultation on the idea, their motion was defeated 7-6. "It was quite devastating," Burke said, noting the farmland they wanted to save has been developed and used for housing and other buildings in the 15 years since then. Fast forward 15 years and Shapero and Burke say they were delighted to hear Schreiner and Brady bringing up the idea again. "We need more politicians like them. They have such foresight and I was really pleased to see they're doing it," Burke said. "Maybe we were ahead of our time in 2009 in Markham when we called for this and we called for Canada's first foodbelt to be created," Shapero added. "But today, looking at it from the lens of 2025, food security is critical for our economy and the agricultural sector is critical for our economy." 'We need to protect the farmland that feeds us': Schreiner Schreiner says the foodbelt is needed because Ontario is losing 319 acres of farmland a day, a figure the Ontario Federation of Agriculture has also reported using data from the May 2022 census of agriculture completed by Statistics Canada. "At a time when [U.S. President Donald] Trump is attacking our sovereignty and our economy with these ridiculous trade threats, now more than ever we need to protect the farmland that feeds us," Schreiner said in an interview on CBC Kitchener-Waterloo's The Morning Edition with host Craig Norris. The private members' bill would create a task force led by farmers, agricultural experts and land planners to determine what lands need to be protected by a foodbelt. Brady's riding is largely agricultural, growing everything from berries to tobacco to peanuts to pumpkins. Haldimand County's website says the municipality has approximately 208,653 acres of farmland across 811 farms while a 2018 report from Norfolk County's Economic Development office says that municipality has 196,403 acres across 1,307 farms. Brady said during a press conference about the private members' bill that the issue of protecting farmland is "near and dear to my heart" and to the people she represents. "We have seen the response from governments when it comes to manufacturing as it stares down the threats from the south. It's time we do the same for agriculture," she said. Criteria to prioritize land needed, Guelph prof says Mike Von Massow is the Ontario Agricultural College chair in food system leadership and a professor of food agriculture and resource economics at the University of Guelph. He says in general, "the concept of land preservation is a good idea." "Whether we explicitly say this land can never be developed or we develop a set of criteria that says how we prioritize and at least evaluate more fulsomely whether this land should be developed, there are clearly trade-offs and we want as much as we can to maintain farmland," Von Massow said in an interview. "Perhaps we prioritize developing on less productive land because we can't just freeze everything." But he said when looking at the Greenbelt, the boundaries have been changed over the years and there are those who want to develop it. "There's always been this tension between development of land and some governments have been much more willing to say, well, we'll take this land out of production," he said from his farm near Elora, Ont. "I'm looking out my front window and the piece of land across the street from me for the last 30 years has been a farm field. It's now growing houses. But we need some development. So being clear on what the criteria is is probably the best path forward," Von Massow said. But can a foodbelt tariff-proof the ag sector? Schreiner has argued the foodbelt would also "tariff-proof" the province's farmers. "Now, more than ever, is the time to protect our farmland, support farmers and grow more food right here in Ontario. Because food security is national security, and without farmland there are no farms, no food, no future," Schreiner said in the news conference announcing the bill. "And I believe that tariff-proofing Ontario's economy starts with protecting the farmland that feeds us and the farmers who grow that food." But when asked if he agreed, Von Massow paused. "I'm not sure, frankly, that tariffs are going to be a significant threat to Canada to land use," he said. "I think this blanket statement that it will tariff proof agriculture is probably a little bit leveraging the issue of the moment," he added. "That's not to diminish the value of thinking about land preservation, but I'm not sure that unless we're talking about specific tariffs and specific issues that this will make a significant difference." Agriculture groups support bill The bill has received support from the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and the National Farmers Union for Ontario. Both groups has representatives who stood beside Schreiner and Brady at Tuesday's press conference. Mark Reusser, vice-president of Waterloo Federation of Agriculture and a director with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, said the proposed bill is something farmers across the province have been calling for over the years. Specifically in southern Ontario, he noted it's a "very special place" with a climate that allows a large variety of items to be raised and grown. Dave Kranenburg, treasurer and director-at-large with the National Farmers Union for Ontario, said his organization was "ecstatic" to see the legislation. CBC News asked Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness Minister Trevor Jones whether the foodbelt idea was one he would support. In an emailed response, Jones did not address the foodbelt bill directly, but said the provincial government "will always stand up for Ontario's world-class farmers and protect our farmlands." 'Once you destroy it, it's gone' Shapero and Burke say they know private members' bills from opposition parties don't always do well at Queen's Park, but they hope the provincial government will give the proposal another look. "You need to accommodate growth. That's a given, but not at the expense of Class A farmland. I mean, we have some of the best farmland in the whole world. We have the best soil conditions, the climatic conditions, all of that," Burke said. "Once you destroy it, it's gone." Shapero agrees soil should be given a lot more credit for its impact on Ontario's economy. "We talk about oil and critical minerals as key to our economy, but soils that can grow almost anything, that's a critical resource too," Shapero said. "It's something we need to shift our thinking around and see that food systems and food supply are key to making Canada work. Our ability to feed ourselves, this is something that's really, I think, top of mind for people and this is really an idea whose time has come."
Edmonton Journal
15-05-2025
- Business
- Edmonton Journal
Ontario budget forecasts $14.6B deficit, slower growth in wake of U.S. tariffs
Article content Much of the increased pressure comes from about $30 billion in spending to stimulate the economy in the face of tariffs, including a $5-billion fund to give businesses relief, adding $5 billion to an infrastructure financing fund, and implementing a new, $500-million Critical Minerals Processing Fund. As well, the government is planning to add $1 billion to its Skills Development Fund to retrain workers, add $600 million to a fund that helps businesses set up or expand in Ontario, $200 million for a shipbuilding grant program and create a $50-million fund to help businesses make new supply chains and help boost interprovincial trade. But for all of the various funds for businesses, opposition leaders said there is very little in the budget for people and their most pressing needs, such as housing and health care. 'This budget talks a lot about cars and infrastructure,' Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner said. 'It doesn't talk a lot about actually investing in people.'
CTV News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Petition at Queen's Park against Parry Sound mega school
Northern Ontario Watch Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner presents petition from Parry Sound residents opposed to plans for new K-12 school.
CBC
14-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
2 MPPs want to create foodbelt to protect farmland, tariff-proof Ontario's agricultural industry
Two MPPs say Ontario needs to create a foodbelt to protect farmland and help the province's agricultural industry survive any U.S. tariffs. Guelph MPP and Green Party of Ontario Leader Mike Schreiner and MPP Bobbi Ann Brady, the independent MPP for Haldimand-Norfolk, have co-written a private member's bill that they presented at Queen's Park on Tuesday. "Now, more than ever, is the time to protect our farmland, support farmers and grow more food right here in Ontario. Because food security is national security, and without farmland there are no farms, no food, no future," Schreiner said in a press conference. Brady said the issue is "near and dear to my heart" and to the people she represents. "Haldimand and Norfolk counties are home to numerous farm families who not only contribute significantly to the local economies, but the Canadian economy. This holds true for every agricultural region in this province," Brady said. If passed, the bill would create a task force of farmers, agricultural experts and land-use planners to develop recommendations to create a foodbelt protection plan. The report would address issues like improving soil health and protecting farmland. Schreiner said the province loses farmland to developments, mining and highway projects. He said legislation like Bill 5, the proposed Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, could encroach further onto farmers' fields. Bill 5 would allow the province to create special economic zones and would allow the province to make changes to several laws including the Endangered Species Act, Electricity Act, Environmental Assessment Act, Environmental Protection Act, Mining Act, Ontario Heritage Act, and Species Conservation Act. Critics have argued Bill 5 would give the government power to push through certain projects like a tunnel under Highway 401 or mineral mining in northern Ontario, with little resistance. Premier Doug Ford has said the new laws would help Ontario economically, in particular mentioning mining minerals. "We can be the wealthiest, richest, most prosperous sub-sovereign nation anywhere in the world if we get those critical minerals out of the ground," Ford said on May 6. CBC K-W reached out to Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness Minister Trevor Jones' office for comment on Schreiner and Brady's bill but did not receive a response. Soil 'can't be made when you destroy it' Mark Reusser, vice-president of Waterloo Federation of Agriculture and a director with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, said the proposed bill is something farmers across the province have been calling for over the years. Specifically in southern Ontario, he noted it's a "very special place" with a climate that allows a large variety of items to be raised and grown. "We can grow a longer list of fruits, vegetables, grains and livestock than anywhere else in North America, with the exception of California," he said. "Soils are a strategic resource that can't be made when you destroy it." Dave Kranenburg, treasurer and director-at-large with the National Farmers Union for Ontario, said his organization was "ecstatic" to see the legislation. "As I was leaving my farm this morning after planting in the front field and planting trees, one of the things that I'm constantly curious about and concerned about is whether or not these trees that are being planted, are they going to be there in 20 years?" he said. "Do I have to worry about the development encroaching on this farmland? We're investing a lot of our time, our energy, our resources and protecting the soil, the water around us and to grow food for our neighbours and I want to know that it's going to be there in 20 years at the hard work today is going to see fruition."
Global News
24-04-2025
- Business
- Global News
Ontario's unemployment rate jumps to 7% even as ‘moderate' job creation continues
Job creation in Ontario continued at a 'moderate' pace last year, according to the province's financial watchdog, but failed to keep pace with the number of people looking for work. A new report from the Financial Accountability Officer of Ontario found new jobs continued to be created in 2024 across the province, although the rate of growth slowed from previous record-breaking years. As a result, the unemployment rate in the province increased substantially to seven per cent. That rose from 5.6 per cent the previous year and marks the highest rate of unemployment in Ontario since 2014, excluding the COVID-19 pandemic. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The number of people without a job was up across Ontario, the report said, but Kitchener, Cambridge and Waterloo — which are at the heart of the province's tech sector — experienced the fastest rate of job creation. Story continues below advertisement A spokesperson for the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade said the government remained 'laser-focused' on job creation, pointing out 55,000 jobs were created this year amid 'challenging' global economic uncertainty. 'We are ensuring that Ontario remains the best destination for businesses to invest, expand and create more good-paying jobs,' they said. On average, across the province, hourly wages grew by 5.2 per cent to $36.44 per hour. The growth rate was more than double the rate of inflation, the report said. While some age groups saw gains, employment for young people (aged 15 to 24) dropped by 0.6 per cent. Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner said the numbers were 'deeply concerning' and pointed to a 'staggering' youth unemployment rate of almost 16 per cent. 'There is a huge opportunity to tariff-proof Ontario by investing in good, green jobs and supporting a made-in-Ontario clean energy and mining-to-manufacturing strategy,' Schreiner said, urging the province to put more money into creating renewable energy jobs.
