Q: Why does the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation report to the MOE?
A: Since 2005, Minister James Bradley has carried both the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation and Greenbelt Foundation portfolios. It has transferred with him from Tourism, to Transportation, to Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, to Community Safety and Correctional Services and most recently to Environment.
Q: When will the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation close?
A: Without further funding, the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation will have to close its doors by the end of 2012. It has not been granting since the end of 2009 but has been working on the Measuring Success project for the last two years. It’s ability to engage in any further significant projects is limited by both funding and its ability to commit to anything without knowing whether it will continue to function in the future
Q: How does the ORMCP and the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation differ from the Greenbelt Plan and the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation?
A: The Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation was set up in 2005 after the Province passed the Greenbelt Act and Greenbelt Plan. A 2010 survey of stakeholders found that they believe the ORMCP emphasizes environmental protection of a well-defined landform while the Greenbelt Plan is viewed as a more generic rural plan that gives equal or greater weight to the need to protect agricultural land and has slightly less robust environmental protection standards. The Oak Ridges Moraine and Greenbelt Foundations are viewed by stakeholders as being equally valuable and most importantly, complement each other. Where the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation has provided most of its funding towards on-the-ground projects such as tree planting, stream rehabilitation and wetland enhancement, the
Greenbelt Foundation focuses more on the agricultural sector. Each unique entity carries its own history, serves its own constituents and performs complementary roles.
Q: Why do you need Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation if there is regulation that protects the ORM?
A: Regulation alone will not protect the ORM. The Measuring Success Project has revealed that continued non-regulatory efforts such as land securement and land restoration are critical if the ORMCP is to meet its obligations.
