The Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario argues the province's class 1, 2 and 3 farmland and specialty crop land needs to be protected from aggregate extraction.
The CFFO makes that argument in it's written response to the government's consultation on changes to the province's Aggregate Resources Act Policy Framework.
The federation calls for an appropriate balance between the need for aggregates and the importance of protecting or restoring the productive capacity of farmland.
The government is proposing that agriculture impact studies be a requirement for aggregate projects proposed on prime agricultural land.
The CFFO suggests such studies - if done properly - should be a valuable tool for determining where effective rehabilitation back to agricultural land would be possible.
If the study shows the quality of the land would be lost or significantly damaged, the CFFO says aggregate extraction should not be permitted.
