Simcoe County Official Plan, Invasive Species and a Food and Agriculture Charter

By Sandy Agnew North Simcoe Community News August 9 2012

Simcoe County has released its draft Official Plan. This is perhaps the most important document that will shape the future of Simcoe County and all the sixteen member municipalities. It’s available on the County website.

The public has a chance to comment until August 22nd. 

It’s all very nice that this document is being put out for public comment but the timing couldn’t be much worse. The public is in summer mode and not much interested in scrutinizing lengthy documents. It certainly gives one the impression that they really don’t want the public getting in the way of the development juggernaut.

County Councillor Mayor Gerry Marshall of Penetanguishene argued for a delay to give everyone time to properly assess the Plan. A few other councillors supported him but the majority voted to support the “good to go” for development process.

The County scheduled two sessions for local planners and councillors to discuss the proposed modifications to the Official Plan but as of the NSCN article submission deadline there are no public meetings scheduled to answer questions by citizens. AWARE Simcoe found out by chance that the public could also attend these two sessions only in time to attend the July 10th one. But the public can only observe. By the time you read this there will be about three weeks left to comment. I urge you to have your say in what Simcoe County will look like for future generations. 

You can read AWARE Simcoe’s critique of the Provincial Places To Grow, Amendment 1 for Simcoe County.

AWARE Simcoe is meeting with other groups to develop a similar assessment of the County’s modified Official Plan, so check back in early August, it should be posted then. Or email mrcinc@interlog.com to be added to the AWARE Simcoe email alert list.

The issue of invasive plant species is of growing concern in Simcoe County. The growing presence of Giant Hogweed in particular, with its potentially medical issues for humans, poses a real threat to the safety or our residents and visitors alike. Other species, while less toxic to humans, pose major threats to our native flora and ecological functions. Forests overrun by plants such as garlic mustard and dog strangling vine will cease to regenerate native trees and wildflowers and become economically unproductive ecological dead zones, populated only by alien species.

Thankfully Ontario has just released a plan to combat invasive species. The Ontario Invasive Species Strategic Plan outlines Ontario’s approach to the prevention, early detection, and rapid response to new invasive species. Simcoe County has also initiated a process which I hope will lead to action toward the control of invasive species locally. In response to a letter to the Corporate Services Committee from local environmental expert Bob Bowles and me, encouragement from committee member Midland Deputy Mayor Stephan Kramp and support from staff, the committee voted to direct County Forester Graeme Davis to bring back a report later in the year. 

As citizens, we all have a role to play in controlling invasive species. Check your yard, ditch or neighbourhood for these species and if you find them, take action. For information, go to http://www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/index.php/managecontrol. 

Positive things are happening with regards to the development of a food and agricultural charter. The following is from the Food Partners Alliance website: http://fpa.simcoe.ca/index.htm. 

“Food Partners Alliance is a voluntary, multi-sector organization that was established as a result of a growing realization about the urgency to marshal more attention and resources into the building of a truly sustainable food system, as way to grow a prosperous, healthy tomorrow. Our strengths are our people, diversity, heritage, ingenuity, timing and place.

A final first-draft of the Simcoe County Food and Agriculture Charter is now complete! Next steps will include circulating the draft to County residents, in print and online. Moreover, a series of public consultations will be held in Fall 2012, at which time the public will be encouraged to participate in vetting the document. An online survey will also be made available to collect further comments.”

You can have a look at the draft Charter at:  http://www.simcoe.ca/ws_cos/groups/public/@pub/@fpa/documents/web_content/wscos_011767.pdf