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May 2010 MPP Wilkinson

The letter thanks MPP John Wilkinson for meeting with the Agricultural Business Community (ABC) to discuss the proposed Highway 7&8 route. The ABC aims to help consultants understand agriculture so the best route is selected. However, the ABC believes the consultants still do not fully comprehend agriculture and the complexities of routing a highway through class 1 and 2 farmland. One producer noted it costs their farm $2 per minute for each additional minute needed to transport manure due to increased travel time from a new highway route. The ABC looks forward to reviewing how the consultants apply their selection criteria regarding agriculture and route choice at the next public information center in early summer.

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152 views1 page

May 2010 MPP Wilkinson

The letter thanks MPP John Wilkinson for meeting with the Agricultural Business Community (ABC) to discuss the proposed Highway 7&8 route. The ABC aims to help consultants understand agriculture so the best route is selected. However, the ABC believes the consultants still do not fully comprehend agriculture and the complexities of routing a highway through class 1 and 2 farmland. One producer noted it costs their farm $2 per minute for each additional minute needed to transport manure due to increased travel time from a new highway route. The ABC looks forward to reviewing how the consultants apply their selection criteria regarding agriculture and route choice at the next public information center in early summer.

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hwy7and8
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Agriculture Business Community

Chapters: Perth East, Perth South, Wilmot West .


Agricultural Business Community of Perth East,
Perth South and Wilmot West
C/o 3649 Road 107
RR#2, Tavistock, Ontario
N0B 2R0

Hon. John Wilkinson


MPP, Perth-Wellington
Constituency Offices
55 Lorne Avenue East
Stratford, Ontario
N5A 6S4

May 26, 2010

To John Wilkinson, MPP;

Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule on Tuesday to listen to our presentation on behalf of the Agricultural
Business Communities of Perth East, Perth South and Wilmot West. This same presentation was made at the MTO
Stakeholder meeting on March 27, 2010. The ABC continues to strive to assist MTO and its consultants to understand the
business of agriculture so that they can make the best decisions in their selection of a route for Highway 7&8. The intent of
this presentation was to once again bring information to the consultants so that they can accurately interpret agriculture
and apply reliable criteria to the study area.

It is clear to ABC that the MTO consultants still do not fully understand agriculture, the regulatory environment it
operates in and the geographic complexity of viable agricultural business units. The planning process does not appear to
accommodate the complexities of proposing large infrastructure projects in areas of class 1 and 2 agricultural land.

One producer from our examples, who makes 780 trips per year for the movement of manure, has determined that each
additional minute it takes to move manure, costs his farm business two dollars/minute. One doesn’t have to be a
mathematician to appreciate the implications of the "nuisance factor" for access or the impact on compensation costs for
those whose lands are eventually affected by highway development.

The consultants have been focused on the development of planning criteria and a rationale for route selection. The
Agriculture Business Community looks forward to reviewing any application of their criteria as it relates to agriculture
and the rational used in their selection of a preferred route for the Shakespeare study area at the next PIC scheduled for
early summer. We hope the issues we brought to your attention can be resolved to ensure this process is real and useful
for all of us.

Sincerely

Sharon Weitzel per


Agriculture Business Community of Perth East, Perth South and Wilmot West

c/o 3649 Road 107, R.R.# 2


Tavistock, On N0B 2R0
Tel: 519-655-2613
Email: [email protected]

C/O 3649 ROAD 107,R.R.# 2 • TAVISTOCK, ON • N0B 2R0


PHONE: 519-655-2613 • EMAIL [email protected]

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