A large portion of the most agriculturally-viable land in Canada is located in the province of Ontario. Within Ontario, municipal governments are the mechanism by which provincial land-use policy is implemented, and virtually all agricultural production happens within the boundaries of an upper-tier municipal government. This means that municipal governments are the most local level of government responsible for making decisions and implementing programs and policies related to the agriculture and agri-food sector. However, little is known about the structure, knowledge base, and capacity of municipal governments to respond to agricultural and agri-food priorities and issues. This paper reveals that the capacity of county planning departments is varied and presents a case for further research on this topic. The agricultural and agri-food sector is in a position where it both contributes and is extremely vulnerable to climate change; expertise is needed to manage both the risks and opportunities that rural communities face. It is imperative that governments and decision-makers who affect the agriculture and agri-food industry have capacity and knowledge to support the sector and respond to critical issues as they arise. The decisions of elected officials, the resources that municipalities have, and the expertise of staff are all key elements that affect implementation of provincial priorities and the consideration given to agriculture when creating policies, programs, and initiatives.

A large portion of the most agriculturally-viable land in Canada is in the province of Ontario, particularly within the Greenbelt. Within Ontario, municipal governments are the primary mechanism by which provincial land-use policy is implemented, and virtually all agricultural production happens within the boundaries of an upper-tier municipal government. This means that municipal governments (local and regional governments) are the most local level of government responsible for making decisions and implementing programs and policies related to the agriculture and agri-food sector. However, little is known about the structure, knowledge base, and capacity of municipal governments to respond to agricultural and agri-food priorities and issues. This paper presents the results of research identifying a number of positive and negative factors that contribute to municipal capacity. This capacity is varied and relates directly to the ability to address emerging agricultural priorities. Governments and decision-makers who affect the agriculture and agri-food industry must have the capacity and knowledge to support the sector and respond to critical issues as they arise. The decisions of elected officials, the resources that municipalities have, and the expertise of staff are all key elements that affect the implementation of provincial priorities and the consideration given to agriculture when creating policies, programs, and initiatives.

This session will reflect on the importance of rural and agri-food communities and provide key insights on the capacity of municipal governments to support the agriculture and agri-food sector and respond to rural issues. In Ontario, where the most agriculturally-viable land in Canada is located, municipalities are the most local level of government and are responsible for implementing provincial and federal policies and directives. However, little is known about the structure, knowledge base, and capacity of municipal governments to respond to agricultural and agri-food priorities and issues. A review of existing literature and municipal websites reveals that municipal planning departments are extremely varied and inconsistently staffed. This appears to be the surface of a much larger inconsistency related to financial resources, staff expertise, and council’s knowledge about agriculture and agri-food. Our team has completed the research related to this project and the findings of this study are informed by data collected via survey and semi-structured interviews from 66 municipalities in the Greenbelt. Findings indicate that there is an increasing knowledge gap related to agricultural planning and agri-food issues, and that fewer elected officials/planners have agricultural backgrounds, expertise, or training. This presents a threat to rural and agri-food communities as their livelihoods depend on the ability of council (and staff) to understand critical issues, protect farmland, and make agriculturally-supportive decisions. Agri-food communities are important and it is critical that our governance systems not only recognise that but also have the capacity to support, protect, and respond to the agri-food sector.