Minto Council Backs Bill 21 -- A Bold Step to Protect Ontario’s Farmland

Local leaders join the fight against urban sprawl by supporting the Protect Our Food Act

The Town of Minto Council has officially thrown its support behind Bill 21: Protect Our Food Act, a proposed piece of legislation designed to safeguard Ontario’s agricultural lands from being lost to development.

During a council meeting on November 18, Deputy Mayor Jean Anderson introduced a motion to endorse the bill, which passed with unanimous support. Bill 21 was co-sponsored by Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner and independent MPP Bobbi Ann Brady.

If enacted, the legislation would establish a Foodbelt—a designated zone to permanently protect farmland from urban sprawl, major highway projects, aggregate mining, and other developments.

The bill also calls for the creation of a task force composed of farmers, agricultural experts, and land-use planners. Their mandate would be to develop recommendations for a robust Foodbelt Protection Plan, ensuring Ontario’s agri-food sector remains strong and sustainable.

“Ontario’s agri-food sector contributes $52 billion to the provincial economy and employs over 875,000 people,” Schreiner emphasized. “All of that is at risk because Ontario loses 319 acres of farmland every day. Now is the time to protect our farmland, support farmers, and grow more food right here at home. Food security is national security—because without farms, there is no food, no future.”

The Town of Minto’s endorsement adds momentum to a growing movement among municipalities and agricultural advocates who see Bill 21 as a vital step toward preserving Ontario’s food production capacity for generations to come.

For background information on the Ontario Foodbelt, read the article: An Ontario Foodbelt? Two MPPs want to see it happen.