EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill amends the Planning Act with respect to land that is zoned for prescribed agricultural uses. The Bill provides that the land cannot be rezoned, and the uses permitted on the land cannot be changed, unless an Agricultural Impact Assessment has been carried out. The restriction applies to a municipality passing a zoning by-law and to the Minister making a Minister’s Zoning Order.

Bill 27 2022

An Act to amend the Planning Act to protect agricultural land

His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

1 The Planning Act is amended by adding the following section after the heading to Part V:

Agricultural Impact Assessment

Application

33.1  (1)  This section applies with respect to land that was zoned for prescribed agricultural uses as of the day the Protecting Agricultural Land Act, 2022 came into force.

Restriction on change to zoning by-law

(2)  Despite anything in this Part, the council of a local municipality shall not pass a zoning by-law that purports to change the uses permitted on the land or the zoning of the land itself unless an Agricultural Impact Assessment has been carried out in accordance with the regulations.

Restriction on Minister’s zoning order

(3)  Despite anything in this Part, the Minister shall not make an order under section 34.1 or 47 that purports to change the uses permitted on the land or the zoning of the land itself unless an Agricultural Impact Assessment has been carried out in accordance with the regulations.

2 Section 70 of the Act is amended by adding the following clause:

  (b)  for the purposes of section 33.1,

          (i)  prescribing agricultural uses, and

         (ii)  governing Agricultural Impact Assessments;

Commencement

3 This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

4 The short title of this Act is the Protecting Agricultural Land Act, 2022.