Ms Pastoor: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, I didn’t get a chance to go to the Olympics either.

This week the Edmonton city council passed their municipal development plan, which included a section on food and urban agriculture. The local food industry has a significant impact on the economy, environment, social, and cultural growth in urban areas. To the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. Sustainable food systems will be a defining aspect of our urban areas in the future. Has the minister incorporated this into long . . .

The Speaker: Hon. minister, you can proceed.

Mr. Hayden: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am indeed pleased that the member opposite is such a supporter of the local food industry because, of course, it’s hugely important to our province’s economy.

It is one area of agriculture that we’ve seen the greatest increase, 30 per cent, in our farmers’ markets over the past couple of years. The products and the variety that they’re producing and that they’re showcasing around the world now are available right here in Alberta, and I hope people take advantage.

Ms Pastoor: The expansion of urban areas has led to dramatic losses of prime agricultural land, yet this is not the focus in the land-use framework. What is the minister doing to address this issue?

The Speaker: The hon. minister.

Mr. Hayden: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If I recall rightly, I believe about 4 to 5 per cent of the provincial land base is urban settings. Unfortunately, one of the problems with that is that around these centres is some of the best soil that we have in our entire province. But the markets continue to increase around our urban centres for products and things that are being brought in, so people can do that shopping within a hundred kilometres.

The Speaker: The hon. member.

Ms Pastoor: Thank you. That’s the urban side of it, but I still think we have to protect our agricultural land. Will the minister introduce initiatives to encourage municipalities to include food and urban agriculture as a central aspect of the development plans?

The Speaker: The hon. minister.

Mr. Hayden: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As a past municipal politician I would expect that the member opposite would understand that land-use issues are issues that are at the local level. It’s their responsibility. I expect that they do very much consider at their tables the highest and best use for land and try to make their decisions based on good information.

Alberta Hansard, February 25, 2010

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