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20 - The Canadian Champion Fnday Janu, «Halton faru îry 14, 2000 ~land protection needs work: Walton G~t lauds. lu Vallon the productive Iand 's there but complursîcut ibis.' she said. 5 Cal/us The commitîce alsa agreed ta encourage "we dont really have enougb ai a support takes ta keep tht agrinultural CX' a with your farming support indusîry ta teIlle in base ta service the farm land," said Mc. viable ane." StOiy ideas Halton. Murphy. Mr. Murphy had anly praise for the at The idea is that farrning doesn't exisî in Sa leî's gel îhem, said Halton chair impact study. "What'u important about Ibis 878.2341 a vacuum. Like matI industries, il requires Joyce Savaline. is il really sets a good background for Ihe warK we u ne uoîug lu rtatton, ne sasa. By IRENE GENTLE The Champion Halton's planning policies couid use a littie shoring up when it cornes to prOtecting agricultural lands, the Region's planning and public works committee heard Wednesday. The mild criticism came from Margaret Wallon of Walton and Hunter Planning. She is also the author ai last year's Agricultstral Impact Study. "I think your policies are relatively old," Ms Walton said. "I think they can use some work." But the Region la headed in the right direction, insisted Halton's commîsatoner of planning and public works Pal Murphy. "I think we're on track. We have more work to do, our policies can be strength- ened, but I think we're on track," he said. Initiatives such as a current golf course study are examptes of the Region's deter- minatian ta protect ils agricuttural suds, said Mr. Murphy. And protection is wriîten rigbt mb ils ofliciat plan. "We actually have very good poîscies on keeping urban devetoprocut ouI ai farm- land, said Mr. Murphy. t think we have a very good urban management program." Ms Wallon was hefore the commiîtee 10 present the impact study. It had been coro- missioned by the Federations ai Agriculture in York, Peel, Durham and Halton ta explore the economic effeet of farming in the Greater Toranto Area (GTA). The study revealed that agriculture is a $l.3 billion industry employing 34,700 peaple in the GTA. The report also found that GTA farms are more productive Iban those in mast patta ai the country. Some ai that is attributable ta the lands theroselves, wbich were identified as being amang only Ove per cent in Canada considered ta be prime. But the news isn't ail gaad. About 150,000 acres ai farmland have been wiped OUI between 1976 and 1996 in the .GTA, the report stated. Some ai that accurred befare municipal- ities began strengthening their planning patines. said Ms Wallon. Haltuns policies are flue, but they need ta be acîed an ta save farmland, said Mr. Murphy. 'The principle prablem in tht GTA is a lack ai patitical will ta act an the princi- pies already in place," he said. And Ibat means aIl levels ai gavemment have ta get on board, said Milton cauncil- lor Bany Lee. "I'm really proud ai what Haltan has doue n regard ta agricultural policies, but we've gai ta seek tome very seriaus belp," he said. "We cant do a wbole lot more alone. We ueed ta have provincial policies and federal policies Ibat support what we want ta do." That was alto the impression ai Peter Lambrick, a farmer and president ai the Halton Federation ai Agriculture. "You need the local political will," he said. "lu this case we need a lot more provincial political wiIl." Though the intent had been ta use the impact study as a planning tool, Burlinglan Councillor Joan Laugheed wondered if the cammitîce sbould go even further. "I daut want Ibis ta he shelved as a retourne bol, whicb usually means il gath- crs dust," she said. "Whaî should we be talkiug about in terms ai îtrang action plans?" She suggested that staff came back with proactive directiona ta protect area farro- Seat Actountant Seat Appltance Store Seat Auto Sody Shop Seat Automotlve Sendce Depart ment Seat Sagel Seat Seked Gooda Seat Senk or Truat Company Seat Sanquet Fatilittea Seat Bicycle Shop Seat Sreakfaat Seat Sook Store Seat Sutldlng Suppttea Store Seat Car Serette G Repair Centre Seat Auto GlaaaShop Seat Car/Truc RentaI Seat Daycare Conter Seat Funerat Director Seat Dents Stodto Seat Dellcateaaen Seat Dentiat Seat Department Store Seat Deaserta Seat Dlacount Store Seat Donuts Seat Drlvlng School Seat Dry Cleanera Seat Electronica Store Seat Sathetica Seat Oas Station Seat Glftware Seat Pharmacy Seat Photo Store Seat Ptzza Seat Pnnt Sho» Seat Obîf Club Best Hatr Salon Seat Hamburger Seat Hardware Store Seat HeatinglAir Condttloner Sen'ice Seat Inaurante Company (Broker) Seat Pub (roadhouse) Seat Phyaiotheraptat Seat Sporta wear Seat Sandwich Seat Machos Seat Tannlng Salon Seat lire Shop Seat Toising Sevlce Seat Pools G Spas Retoller Seat Radiator Sho» Seat Radio Station Seat Real Estate Company Seat Jewelter Seat Restaurant Seat Kitchen Cabinets _____________________ Seat Rooflng Contractor Seat Equipnent RentaI Seat Famlly Restaurant Seat Faat Food Reataurant Seat Farm Merket Seat Financlal Advisor Seat Carpet & lite Store Seat Ftsh & Chips Seat Chtneae Reataurant Seat Fitneaa Club Seat Chlroprector ______________ Seat Florlat Seat Coffe. Seat Landacaper ____________ ___________________ Seat Securily Systema Seat Lawyer _________________ Seat Lockamith Seat Statlonaryl Office Suppltea Store Seat Transmission Shop Seat Travel Agency Seat Vetorlnarlan Seat Vldeo Store Seat Wlngs Seat Wlne Shop Seat Wonaen'a Clothea Store Other Seat Shoe Store Seat Meat Store Seat Mens Wear store Seat MufIler ahop Seat Nureesy Seat Optlcian Seat Paint G Watlpapar Store Seat Franilng a Seat Computer Store Art Gatlery ____________ ___________________ Seat Pet Food Shol, I ~ îm I asjea~'s~"s~ i~Çwu,,~D a $1 00.00 Shopping Spree et Savemore Famiiy Market, 327 Brante St., Milton NAME: ADDRESS: _____________________________ PHONE #: -M Wl. is jour Favorite? ~ Vote in the Etana~ian CIampïon'~ if yoga have a favorite business, one that gives yOU groat service, great prises ormaybs gos: beyondthe cati ofduty", nommais thom for Tho Miiton'sChoicoAward in theircet- egory. Dmp ballots off et Tii. Canadien Champion office, 191 Main St. E. Voting closes on Ibesday Januury 25 at 5:OOpm. Ail Bellots wiii ho entered to win a $100.GG Shopping Spies at Savemore Famiiy Mericet, 327 Ironie St., Milton. Winners wiil uppear In aspe- clii Mllton's Choice Awards nomineerssçtion.