Story

A recent proposal to expropriate 770 acres of farmland for a massive industrial site is a threat to farmland in Waterloo region.

They are many questions about the proposed expropriation, but all three levels of government (Wilmot Township, Region of Waterloo, Province of Ontario) have no answers. The lack of information is concerning:

• No public meetings
• No studies released to show why the 770 acre site was selected
• No studies released about the impact of the proposed mega-industrial site on adjacent farms
• No public business case to explain potential benefits to the community beyond vague promises of thousands of jobs
• No end user has been identified

Thousands of people from the community showed up at rallies, signed petitions, and put signs on their lawns to demonstrate support for the landowners. Months have passed, and the landowners maintain they do not want to sell their land. They want it to remain as it is – productive farmland.

Farms in Wilmot Township benefit from having Class 1 soil – almost any type of crop that can grow in their climate zone can be grown in this rural area of Waterloo Region. This rich soil also helps recharge a major aquifer that the people across Waterloo rely on for water. For decades, Waterloo Region’s Countryside Line, some of the strongest protection for farmland and groundwater in Canada, provided the long-term security that has fostered a thriving agricultural community, and enabled Waterloo to have one of the most productive and economically successful agricultural sectors in Canada, providing thousands of jobs and a secure, local supply of food.

Please help us to protect farmland in Wilmot Township with a donation.