The Public GalleryToronto

Toronto City Council · 2023-03-29 · 2023.MM5.30

The filed record

Save Don’t Pave - The Duffins-Rouge Agricultural Reserve, the Rouge National Park, the federally owned former airport lands or the Greenbelt - by Councillor Paula Fletcher, seconded by Councillor Paul Ainslie

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The decision

2023-03-29 · Toronto City Council · adopted

As filed

City Council on March 29, 30 and 31, 2023, adopted the following: 1. City Council affirm its support for protection of the Greenbelt, the Rouge National Urban Park, the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve, and the federally owned Pickering lands. 2. City Council support the unanimous decision by the City of Pickering, made on December 5, 2022, to protect all lands within the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve from urbanization.

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3. City Council request the Federal Government to: a. incorporate the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve and the federally owned Pickering lands within the Rouge Park; b. protect the Rouge National Urban Park from "probable risk of irreversible harm to wildlife, natural ecosystems and agricultural landscapes within the Rouge National Park" if the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve is developed as proposed by the provincial government; c. enforce the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the federal and provincial governments that requires consultation with the federal government before any policy changes are made that may impact the Park and include First Nations Treaty Holders in these consultations; and d. conduct a federal Impact Assessment on all removals from the Greenbelt and any proposal to urbanize the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve.

On the agenda

As the city filed it

The City of Toronto has a proud 50-year history of protecting lands in and around Toronto known as the Rouge National Urban Park, the Greenbelt, the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve and the federally owned former airport lands. In 1974, Toronto Council and Mayor David Crombie called for the protection of all these ecologically and agriculturally important lands. In 2000/2001, Toronto Council sought Intervener Status at a Richmond Hill Ontario Municipal Board and approved over $2.7 million to be set aside to support the City's interest and allocated over $1.3 million to support community groups like Save the Rouge Valley System in their efforts to protect these lands.

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The City of Toronto has supported bringing all federally owned lands within the Rouge Park, including the lands known as the former Pickering Airport lands. Recent provincial legislative changes are threatening to destroy the natural and agricultural heritage system that success governments have protected over the last 50 years.

Staff recommended

Councillor Paula Fletcher, seconded by Councillor Paul Ainslie, recommends that: 1. City Council affirm its support for protection of the Greenbelt, the Rouge National Urban Park, the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve, and the federally owned Pickering lands. 2. City Council support the unanimous decision by the City of Pickering, made on December 5, 2022, to protect all lands within the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve from urbanization.

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3. City Council request the Federal Government to: a. incorporate the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve and the federally owned Pickering lands within the Rouge Park; b. protect the Rouge National Urban Park from "probable risk of irreversible harm to wildlife, natural ecosystems and agricultural landscapes within the Rouge National Park" if the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve is developed as proposed by the provincial government; c. enforce the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the federal and provincial governments that requires consultation with the federal government before any policy changes are made that may impact the Park and include First Nations Treaty Holders in these consultations; and d. conduct a federal Impact Assessment on all removals from the Greenbelt and any proposal to urbanize the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve.

    On the record

    The item as the City filed it

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