November 23, 2009 Post MDP

In providing information to our members and the public to inform them of how we got to where we are, NEEA is committed to providing facts to support all the claims made by our organization.We will provide new information each day until the Non-Statutory meeting in City Council Oct 26/ 2012. This we hope will bring the facts to the table and supply information to those seeking the truth.

This article was found in "Just Food Edmonton's Blog" published November 23/2009. This particular "win" for GEA at City Council came with information and direction from residents within our Community (Horse Hill) who have alot of knowledge and participation in the previous two (1983 and 1997) NE Land Management Studies which clearly stated that NE Edmonton would be staged as agriculture until it was required for urban growth.

From our Communities perspective, we call their win a "blind siding" of the Community. GEA started this campaign in 2008! Who did they campaign? The same Community who has been very patient and accepting to our agricultural producers had just been duped going into City Council. Not one meeting to involve the Community residents by GEA or North East Agricultural Producers (NEAP) to simply let the Horse Hill Community League know what was about to be proposed. Leaving the Horse Hill Community uninformed!

Notice too;
                  "Motions were passed to ensure that mechanisms and strategies to preserve farmland within in Edmonton will be in place before any land can be planned, rezoned or developed."

How about we help? Ownership, Edmonton Area Land Trust to name a couple easy ones.
Their initiative was clearly expressed in the previous read.

This is one of the many reasons the North East Edmonton Alliance (NEEA) was created... to inform, bring facts, reasoning and representation for those who have another voice for our Community.

The Resident Stakeholders, NEEA Members

Protecting Edmonton’s Food Security

The Greater Edmonton Alliance had a great day at city hall yesterday, winning key votes on their year long campaign to preserve farm land and integrate a local food system into any future plans for development.
Motions were passed to ensure that mechanisms and strategies to preserve farmland within in Edmonton will be in place before any land can be planned, rezoned or developed.

This was GEA’s primary task from the beginning of the “This Land is our Land” Campaign launched in September of 2008. More than a year later it is now moving forward in the final version of the MDP to be voted on in February.
The biggest win came on the following motion:
2.2.1.7- Preparation of Area Structure Plans is authorized for the Northeast, Southeast, Southwest Urban Growth Areas and shall only be approved following council acceptance of, and adherence with the:
- Growth Coordination Strategy
- Integrated Infrastructure Plan: and
- City Wide Food and Agriculture Strategy

An amendment to delete the City Wide Food and Agriculture Strategy was made by Ward 3 Councilor Tony Caterina. This amendment was defeated in a 7-6 nail-biter.
Those councilors who voted for keeping the City Wide Food and Agriculture Strategy tied to the motion and any future planning and development were: Karen Lebovici, Ron Hayter, Don Iveson, Dave Theile, Ben Henderson, Kim Krushell, Linda Sloan.

Those who voted to remove the City Wide Food and Agriculture strategy from the motion were: Mayor Mandel, Tony Caterina, Ed Gibbons, Jane Batty, Bryan Anderson and Amarjeet Sohi.
The GEA extends their thanks to all of who helped out with the campaign.
This is a huge step forward for food security in Edmonton.