Lack of protection for farmland, water

Editor:
So many things have changed in our lives over the past few months. Normally, at the start of September, there is excitement about going back to school. Shopping for school supplies and clothes. The anticipation of seeing friends again after a long summer. But the summer of 2020 was unlike any other. Many Canadians are working from home. Others have lost their jobs. The school year is tempered with the uncertainty of our new reality.
What has not changed is that the crops that were planted in those early warm days of spring are being harvested. The potatoes are being pulled from the ground, the combines are running well into the night and the markets are full of fresh Ontario produce. Life goes on.
But the pandemic has also highlighted the vulnerabilities in our supply chain and lack of action to protect farmland and water resources. We discovered how much we depend on other countries for the safety equipment (PPE) our health care providers require to treat COVID-19 patients. The Ford government has pledged to start producing PPE in the province so we never suffer shortages of critical medical equipment again. That is a good move.
However, the threat to our farmland and water, both essential to a stable food supply during a pandemic, persists. As we head into the fall, with all the concerns about a possible second wave of COVID-19 and the ongoing strain on our economy, we ask the Ontario government to take the long overdue steps to ensure the province’s farmland and water resources are protected for now and future generations.
NDACT will not be in a position to hold an in person Annual General Meeting this year. Please direct your inquiries regarding financial statements to our Treasurer at info@ndact.com
We implore this government to pledge that Ontarians will never have to rely on foreign countries for our food and source water by putting protections in place now.
Brian Bell,
Creemore.
Submitted on behalf of the North Dufferin Agricultural and Community Taskforce (NDACT)