The Planning Act requires that all decisions affecting land use planning matters "shall be consistent with" the Provincial Policy Statement.  The Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) came into effect on March 1, 2005.   The Ontario government is now undertaking the required five year review of the set of policies that guide land use planning in the province.   So if you think we need to make improvements in this central keystone of the planning system here’s your chance to speak up.  

The policies in the PPS have broad long term implications for rural communities.  The way the policies are carried through into municipal Official Plans have a great deal of significance for local government functions, businesses, farmers, rural landowners and various community interests.  We all have a stake in whether the planning system is working well in balancing competing interests and preserving or creating the kinds of places we all want to live.  For example, land use policies guide decisions over where development should take place, how quickly and how much land should be serviced or allocated for residential use in the countryside and in town.  The policy statements set the standard against which local Official Plans are assessed.  For how they strike the balance between economic development, community sustainability, efficiency of public services, ecological protection goals and how they resolve conflicts over natural resource use such as that between aggregate extraction and protection of prime farmland.   The questions dealt with in the policy statements are complex and critical for rural society.   These matters are regularly front and centre in the local media as battles over what is to be done play out at council meetings across the province.  When people believe these matters aren’t being decided in the way they think best one often hears the criticism of either local councils, provincial interference or the Ontario Municipal Board.   Rural leaders and organizations now have the opportunity to reflect on their experience with the planning process and contribute their thoughts and suggestions.  To inform yourself about the current policies and the various ways to participate in the consultation visit the Municipal Affairs and Housing website.

In the face of widespread and broadening criticism of the government’s abandonment of the Census long-form Industry Minister Tony Clement reiterated his position in this media release July 13.  

In our view the long-form represented a fundamental and irreplaceable data service.  (See our blog from July 7^th).  Its substitution by a voluntary process will seriously impair our future ability to understand rural realities.  The issue of intrusiveness the government says it is responding to is a red herring – the government holds many records containing personal information on Canadians such as health records or tax filer information that are as personal if not more so and that are surrounded by effective privacy provisions.  Rural leaders and organizations that value factual, well-informed decision-making should continue to make the case to their federal MPs and the Minister that reconsideration is necessary.

The Honourable Tony Clement
C.D. Howe Building
235 Queen Street
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0H5
Telephone: 613-995-9001
Fax: 613-992-0302
minister.industry@ic.gc.ca

Norman Ragetlie, Director, Policy & Stakeholder Engagement

Ontario developed a very aggressive campaign to build the renewable energy sector in the province through guaranteed prices for electricity from different categories of renewable energy projects, (the Feed-In-Tariff rate or FIT).  The incentive triggered exactly the behaviour the government wanted.  Rural Ontario landowners were among those that responded enthusiastically.  It seems the campaign has been so successful in sparking solar proposals (16,000) that the government is concerned we won’t be able to afford it.  The response of the Ontario Power Authority is to create a new category to drop the price for electricity from photo-voltaic solar panels that are ground-mounted to a 27 % lower rate than for roof-mounted panels – to 58.8 cents/kw/h from 80.2 cents/kw/h.  The government argues that the general purpose of the FIT program was to create a reasonable rate of return for all types of renewable energy and that the publically funded incentive for the 11,000 ground mounted projects is much higher than necessary now that the relative costs of ground versus roof panels are better understood. The preponderance of ground-mounted proposals are on farms and rural properties.  Judging from media reports the proposed change has become something of a lightening rod as proponents for those projects that weren’t under contract yet cry foul and now question if the new proposed rates of return are worth the investment.  Those who have planned projects and made deposits but don’t have contracts yet have been angered and argue that certainty and predictability for investment are precisely what the FIT program was supposed to accomplish and that the government needs to follow through.

For example, the Ontario Federation of Agriculture has urged its members to contact their MPPs and taken the position that all proposals received before July 2^nd when the change was announced should be grandfathered in at the original higher rate and not just those that are under contract.  Click Here

Comments on the proposed change need to be in by August 3^rd  to the Ontario Power Authority by email to:  microFIT@powerauthority.on.ca.  or by mail to:
Ontario Power Authority
120 Adelaide Street West, Suite 1600
Toronto, Ontario M5H 1T1
Attention: Ground-Mounted Solar PV

For more background on the proposed change Click Here
The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure is responsible for the power authority
See OFA's comments on the proposed change as reported in the Windsor Star  
News articles are painting the issue as an urban/rural split.   e.g. from the Toronto Star

Norman Ragetlie, Director, Policy & Stakeholder Engagement

On June 26^th the federal government announced that the way the 2011 Census was going to be conducted would change.  Information previously gathered from a 20 % sample of Canadians, the mandatory long-form, would now be collected through a voluntary national household survey that would be sent to 30 % of households.  Organizations and citizens across rural Ontario have reason to be concerned that reliable, accurate data about their communities will no longer be available.  Only some people will fill in a voluntary form, making for spotty and unreliable samples. 

Why should this change be of concern to people and organizations in rural Ontario?  Is this a minor concern for only academics and statisticians?  No. The proposed voluntary approach could have significant potential negative impact for many types of organizations.  The long-form data gave us the most reliable information we could get for tracking social and economic conditions and trends in rural and small town Ontario. Without it we will be hard-pressed to be guided by facts when identifying and addressing challenges. How will we be able to compare changes over time and understand if people’s circumstances are improving or worsening if we can’t go back and compare consistent information?  How would we know if programs should be directed to one particular “hot spot” or instead that all places were experiencing a similar situation if we can’t compare?  Business organizations too have been sounding the alarm since they rely on solid demographic data to make marketing and location decisions.   

Over the years the Rural Ontario Institute’s (ROI) predecessor organizations have organized forums on issues such as access to health care, education, immigration, poverty, broadband access, economic development and the like. We think it is vital that all stakeholders and especially local government and responsible agencies at the regional and provincial level are all well informed as they plan and respond to social and economic conditions in the communities they serve.   The private sector, the public sector and non-profit agencies alike require a sound understanding of changes in our communities and the challenges or opportunities those present if they are to be effective and efficient.   

The ROI encourages subscribers and rural leaders with an interest in reliable information about the well-being of our communities to inform themselves about the changes and communicate directly with their federal MPs and the Honourable Tony Clement the Industry Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

Another way to make a statement about this is through the following survey:

·        https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dG5iREc1WHVSM3FQOGZIWG1UQzF5SUE6MQ

Also, be sure to check out the Association of the Municipalities of Ontario's (AMO) website for more information.

Norman Ragetlie, Director, Policy and Stakeholder Engagement

In late 2007 The Centre for Rural Leadership, a predecessor organization to the Rural Ontario Institute (ROI) commissioned a study with Ipsos Reid to look at leadership gaps and needs across rural Ontario.  Through an in-depth interview process with key leaders and other stakeholders in rural Ontario and an analysis of the data generated, it became clear that there were a number of important skills and attributes which were critical to ensuring effective rural organization leadership in the future. 

Those interviewed attributed communications skills, visioning, the ability to see and understand the big picture, and the ability to work with others as key to a leader’s success.  When asked to list the specific skills most important to be developed during the early stages of leadership engagement, respondents noted critical thinking, public speaking, communication and conflict resolution skills as well as the need for a good understanding of team concepts and governance models.   

Those surveyed also indicated that leadership training was, and should be, a necessary ongoing process throughout a person’s leadership career.  They indicated that successful individuals were more likely to have participated in some type of formal leadership training early in their leadership careers.  In rural Ontario, leadership training can start early with organizations such as 4-H Ontario, Scouts and Guides, and through school and other youth oriented programming.  In the spirit of learning ‘from cradle to grave’, the Rural Ontario Institute offers the well respected Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP) for current and emerging adult leaders.  In addition, aspiring leaders of all ages can take advantage of Steps to Leadership programming at the community level and which is currently being delivered through the Rural Ontario Institute in collaboration with 4-H Ontario and the Foundation for Rural Living.  These specific programs, in addition to a variety of leadership development programming available through local volunteer centres, other rural organizations and service providers, means that training is available for those who want to participate and get involved. 

At a time when the agriculture, agri-food and rural sectors are under increasing pressure, and the resource base is getting smaller, it is important that leaders have the skills and knowledge noted to ensure a positive road forward for the industry.  They need to be well rounded and visionary, able to give of their time, have the ability to be fully connected (electronically, through knowledge, personal and professional networks and in person), committed and willing to collaborate with others.  Leaders now and in the future also need to be able to ‘jump in and out of issues’ as the need arises and they must be able to lobby, effectively advocating on an issue without whining. 

They must also realize, as time marches on, that the need for some organizations will be questioned.  Where it makes sense, some organizations may choose to amalgamate or merge; some will redirect their focus and mandates; others may disappear as their mandates wither and their impact decreases or because of the lack of organization succession planning in place to ensure continuity and progress forward.  Finally, some organizations will disappear because they do not fully understand that it is vitally important to engage youth and young emerging leaders in their organizations.   

In a 1999 report from the Conference Board of Canada, it was noted that “leadership capacity is an important component on the road map to prosperity.  The quality of leadership is definitely linked to the quality of life in a country.”  I remain absolutely certain that leaders with the skills, knowledge and attributes noted above and with the drive and desire to succeed, will do so within Ontario’s agriculture, agri-food and rural sectors and beyond.  Their leadership skills will be evident… the organizations they lead will prosper… and the industry will be better off because of their talents and understanding.  Just watch them lead!  

Rob Black, Chief Executive Officer