Policy · Rural Stewardship · Ward 2 Protecting Rural Roads, Farms & Natural Assets Joshua Glover  |  Candidate for Councillor, Ward 2

Ward 2’s farms, rural roads, and natural landscapes are community assets. We can support rural economic growth, protect working farms, and make smarter infrastructure decisions without putting unnecessary costs on Clarington taxpayers.

01 · Modernize agricultural zoning

I will advocate for clear, modern rules through the ZONE Clarington review that support appropriately scaled On-Farm Diversified Uses, including farm markets, value-added agricultural businesses, cideries, farm experiences, and seasonal events.

Standards for scale, parking, traffic, noise, and hours of operation should protect neighbouring farms and rural residents. Higher-impact uses should pay for their own infrastructure effects rather than shift those costs to taxpayers.

02 · Expand Trees for Rural Roads

I will support expanding and targeting Clarington’s Trees for Rural Roads program, working with rural landowners and conservation partners to plant native trees where they give long-term wind protection, erosion control, and rural canopy.

Locations and species should be chosen with Public Works so sightlines, drainage, road safety, and winter maintenance stay intact — using windbreaks and snow-drift management without creating new municipal maintenance obligations.

03 · Use Natural Assets Before Building Expensive Infrastructure

I will work with Council and staff to identify wetlands, woodlands, natural channels, and other features that already provide stormwater, drainage, and flood-management functions, and to count those services in long-term infrastructure planning.

Before building or replacing expensive engineered works, the municipality should ask whether protecting or restoring natural systems can deliver part of the same service at lower long-term cost.

04 · Protect farmland from development impacts

I will advocate for strong protection of active agricultural operations: enforce Ontario’s Minimum Distance Separation requirements, and require Agricultural Impact Assessments where required or warranted by the scale, location and potential agricultural impacts of a proposal.

New development should manage its own stormwater, reducing runoff, erosion, and unnecessary pressure on municipal drainage.

Practical rural stewardship means keeping farms productive, protecting the character of the hamlets, using natural assets wisely, and making infrastructure decisions that last for Clarington taxpayers.

On October 26, vote Joshua Glover for Peace, Order, and Good Governance.