COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

That the following recommendation be

That the motion of Councillor McKelvey and Deputy Mayor Scarpitti be amended to reflect a June 30 th cut-off date.

WHEREAS one of the recommendations of the approved GTA Agricultural Action Plan states as follows: “Encourage the Ontario Farmland Trust (OFT) to develop programs, identify securement mechanisms (including financial) and obtain support from the province, municipal Councils and agricultural organizations; WHEREAS the Eastern Markham Strategic Review identified lands in the eastern part of Markham for a permanent Countryside vision; AND WHEREAS the Province of Ontario has also identified additional lands in Markham as permanent Countryside pursuant to the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan and the Greenbelt Plan; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: THAT the Town of Markham supports the current efforts of the Ontario Farmland Trust in regards to: the federal and provincial governments being requested to amend their Income Tax Acts to provide the same benefits to donors of farmland for which donors of ecologically sensitive lands now qualify; and, the federal and provincial governments being requested to consider other farmland conservation incentives to ensure that farmland remains in agriculture, for agricultural and Countryside lands in Markham ; AND THAT copies of this report be provided to the Minister of Agriculture and Food, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Ontario Farmland Trust, Environment Canada, the Region of York and Region of York municipalities.