For immediate release: Aug. 13, 2018
QUEEN’S PARK – Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett today introduced his Private Member’s Bill An Act respecting a voluntary program for the alternate use of agricultural land and the production of ecosystem services on that land in the Ontario Legislature.
The bill will require the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry to develop a framework and action plan on how agricultural land can be used to create clean air, clean water, healthy soil and a better environment for the good of all society, allow the government to create and distribute public educational materials, promote the holding of international symposia on the topic, and encourage private fundraising.
“I have been involved in promoting ALUS since the early days of the program more than a decade ago,” Barrett said. “The intention of this bill is to further the aims of ALUS and facilitate its adoption in new communities.”
“ALUS Canada enlists farmers in Ontario through their communities to provide solutions for all Ontarians, and for many ministries including environment, natural resources and infrastructure,” said ALUS Canada CEO Bryan Gilvesy. “This bill will allow ALUS to continue to expand its work beyond the eight communities we are in Ontario currently.”
The bill will be debated by the Ontario Legislature during second reading, which may be sometime this fall.
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For more information, contact MPP Toby Barrett
at 519-428-0446 or toby.barrett@pc.ola.org