Goals, Objectives, Strategies, and Results — Continued

Goal 2: The encouragement and enabling of farm businesses.

This goal relates to the second part of the Commission's purpose which is "to encourage farming on agricultural land in collaboration with other communities of interest". The Commission shares the responsibility for encouraging farm use of agricultural lands with its key partners. These include local governments, the agricultural sector and its professional organizations, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, other ministries and agencies, Agriculture Canada and other federal agencies, and some First Nations. Growth in agricultural GDP is dependent on many factors including supply and demand cycles, international trade rules, weather, disease and other factors beyond government control or influence. The targets for this goal are established by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.

Outcome/Key Indicator (Goal Level):

Growth in gross domestic product (GDP) for agriculture.

Objective 1:

Plans, policies and activities of local governments, agencies and First Nations encourage, enable and accommodate farming.

To contribute to the success of the agricultural sector, the Commission works to ensure that the plans and policies of its key partners permit and enable the use of the ALR for agriculture. The Commission is working towards results-based processes, for example, by establishing guidelines to ensure that the provincial interest in encouraging farming is addressed by local governments and others with land use responsibilities.

Strategies:

1. Distribute guidelines to local governments to guide plan development and apply guidelines to plan reviews to ensure provincial ALR interest is met.

2. Discuss potential treaty settlement lands that are in the ALR with First Nations and negotiators.

Objective 2:

Improved local government capacity to plan for agriculture and support farm businesses.

The Commission helps to build the capacity of its key partners, particularly local governments, to plan for agriculture. The Commission has a close working relationship with local governments whose jurisdictions include ALR. Through its various activities, the Commission encourages local governments and others to adopt policies that support and do not hinder agricultural use of the ALR. It encourages local governments to incorporate planning advice from the farm community in its land use decisions. The Commission also works closely with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries to help reduce regulatory barriers to improve the industry's economic viability.

Strategies:

1. Communicate and provide assistance to local governments on ALR regulatory changes, policies and processes.

2. Encourage local governments to include farm community representatives in planning, including their participation on Board or Council advisory committees.

3. Encourage and assist local governments in the preparation of agricultural plans.