Rural Issues Advisory Committee

Mandate

The mandate of the Rural Issues Advisory Committee (“the Committee”) is to provide advice and input to the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and Ottawa City Council on issues affecting the rural and farming community, including agricultural organizations. The Committee will assist City Council, through the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, in its efforts to: protect and preserve the rural area; promote healthy rural communities that contain living, working and recreational opportunities; and respect the natural environment and resources of rural areas. For the purposes of clarity, the Committee’s mandate extends to all those areas identified as ‘rural’ within Schedule “A” of the City’s Official Plan (Attachment 1) and defined as follows: that ‘part of the City not intended for urban development’, which ‘contains a number of important natural resources and is characterized by the dominance of the natural rather than the built environment’.

Responsibilities

The Rural Issues Advisory Committee shall be responsible for:

  • reviewing and recommending appropriate means and methods of dissemination of City information to rural residents and promoting two-way communication between rural residents and businesses, City Council and the City administration;
  • where requested by a Standing Committee or City Department, serve as the forum for examining specific issues of interest to the rural community;
  • liaising or partnering with public and/or private organizations;
  • providing a forum for rural residents to raise issues and concerns with a distinct rural component or impact on rural areas;
  • advising on the delivery of emergency services, access to health and social services and service delivery (i.e. water and wastewater) in the rural areas;
  • raising awareness and promoting an understanding of the rural community and its issues;
  • advising on issues that have implications for the rural population including, but not limited to: snowmobile and ATV use; hunting and firearms; use of private land for public recreational purposes and wildlife management;
  • advising on the impacts of park and recreation proposals and transportation and utility corridors on agriculture;
  • advising the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, on behalf of Ottawa’s agricultural sector, its farmers and farm organizations, on all aspects of the rural community, including land use, municipal services/infrastructure, environmental issues and socio-economic matters affecting agriculture;
  • providing input on how agriculture and rural issues can be incorporated into goals and objectives in the review of Official Plan policies;
  • reviewing studies, plans and proposals as required, or as may be referred by Standing Committee, Council or departments and providing comments on their agricultural and/or rural impacts;
  • advising the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee in the development of policies and programs with respect to agriculture and rural issues;
  • advising the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee on city-wide economic strategies which may have implications for the rural economy;
  • advising the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee on the implementation of federal and provincial legislation related to farm practices;
  • advising the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee on issues relating to agri-business including farm labour, large scale agricultural operations, transportation, marketing and promotion of agri-businesses;
  • soliciting issues and concerns from area farming industries, agricultural organizations, community groups and rural communities and making recommendations to the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee;
  • recommending to the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee strategies to improve the delivery of municipal services, programs and information to the rural areas, including the role of the City’s rural client service centres; and
  • recommending policies to the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee that would ensure that municipal services remain accessible to rural residents and to provide guidance on how such services can be tailored to meet the needs of rural residents.

Organization

The representatives of agricultural organizations or agencies should have special rural and agricultural qualifications, interests and experience as well as the ability and willingness to devote the necessary time to the Committee. The citizens-at-large should possess expertise and willingness to liaise with the range of agencies, organizations and interest groups represented on the Committee and represent the interests of the broader community rather than a specific interest group.

All appointments to the Rural Issues Advisory Committee shall be approved by both the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and Ottawa City Council.

The Rural Issues Advisory Committee shall have up to a maximum of fifteen (15) citizen members comprised of:

  • A representative from Wards 5, 6, 19, 20 and 21;
  • A minimum of two (2) agricultural representatives;
  • One (1) rural business representative;
  • One (1) representative from the Rural Council of Ottawa-Carleton;
  • One (1) representative from the Ottawa Rural Tourism Council;
  • One (1) representative from the Ontario Federation of Agriculture;
  • One (1) representative from an active agricultural organization in rural Ottawa; and
  • Up to a maximum of three (3) members at large from any City ward.

In addition, the Rural Issues Advisory Committee shall also have, in a resource, liaison and/or advisory capacity, the following:

  • One (1) representative from a conservation authority (non-voting).

Lead Department/Reporting Relationship

The lead department for the Rural Issues Advisory Committee shall be the City Manager’s Office, Rural Affairs Office and the staff liaison will be the Rural Affairs Officer. The Rural Issues Advisory Committee may also be asked to review and comment on policies, programs and initiatives emanating from any of the City’s operating departments, which have a distinct rural component or impact on rural areas.

The Rural Issues Advisory Committee shall report primarily through the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee to Ottawa City Council or through another Standing Committee as appropriate.

Resources

The Rural Issues Advisory Committee must report annually to City Council through the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. The timing shall be determined by the Committee Chair, Advisory Committee Coordinator and City Clerk as part of the Committee’s setting its work plan for the following year. The Committee shall also outline its resource requirements for each portion of the work plan.

Links

Advisory Committee Meetings, Agendas and Minutes

[ top ]
WC015849