Waterloo Region says it has secured 70 per cent of Wilmot farmland in ongoing land assembly

Opposition vows to continue the fight

Tractors adorned with protest signs during a Fight for Farmland demonstration in 2024 against the Region of Waterloo’s plan to acquire farmland for future industrial development. Farmers and advocates continue to resist the project, citing concerns over land loss, transparency, and economic uncertainty. Contributed photo

By Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Region of Waterloo said it has secured over 70 per cent of a site identified in Wilmot Township to create shovel-ready land.

The region said with a majority of the land now secured, onsite technical and environmental investigations will continue as the process of creating a shovel-ready site capable of supporting large-scale development advances.

The news isn’t what the Fight for Farmland group wanted to hear and spokesperson Kevin Thomason said he feels for landowners in the land-acquisition area.

“The bottom line is the pressure on the farmers has been absolutely relentless. For a year and a half now, the region has been doing everything it can to threaten, coerce, divide, conquer and take the land out from underneath farmers.”

He added the remaining landowners have made it clear they are not going to sell and the community’s support is unwavering.

“They have done it in unprecedented ways. Thousands of lawn signs, tens of thousands of petition signatures, countless rallies and events, tractor convoys and overflowing council chambers.”

Despite the widespread support, Thomason, also vice chair of the Grand River Environmental Network, admitted the region isn’t getting the hint.

“The community is still as unwilling as ever. The bottom line is there is only so much people can take. Some of these farmers and landowners are in their 70s with health issues and have been waking up every day for a year wondering if today is the day they get expropriated and lose their home and farm.”

In a recent closed-door media briefing with some journalists placed under embargo, the region revealed it still hasn’t secured all the land required. The Gazette, despite being invited to a previous briefing, was not called in for this one.

“The region has confirmed it has no end-user or buyer for the land and couldn't answer questions about project costs or infrastructure funding, raising further alarm over the potential misuse of hundreds of millions, possibly billions, in public dollars,” Thomason added.

The region’s announcement comes amid growing economic uncertainty. Just one day earlier, Honda Canada paused its $15-billion EV plant plans, while Northvolt’s Quebec battery project went bankrupt and GM’s CAMI EV truck plant in Ingersoll remains closed until at least the fall. When the CAMI plant does kickstart production, it will do so with 500 fewer employees.

“These developments cast further doubt on the region’s push for industrial megaprojects. It looks like another government failure wasting millions on something unlikely to happen,” said Thomason.

There have been rumours circulating about potential land purchasers but nothing official has been released to the media or the public about potential suitors. Despite that, the region’s top elected official is pleased the collection of land is gaining momentum and coming closer to the end goal.

“Reaching this major milestone gets us significantly closer to securing long-term investment and economic prosperity locally,” said Waterloo Region Chair Karen Redman in a news release. “It’s imperative, now more than ever, that Waterloo Region be ready to support Canadian manufacturing and well-paying, local jobs.”

The region stated it is committed to ensuring fair and equitable agreements for landowners. Negotiations are underway in an attempt to purchase the remaining land. The release also explained no existing crops will be removed and any existing crop will be harvested once ready.

“Over the last five years, the absence of large, shovel-ready sites has meant missed opportunities as major employers have located in other regions across Ontario. This initiative responds directly to those needs – preparing land that meets global standards and offering strategic advantages,” Redman added.

The Gazette asked Thomason if the cause to save the 770 acres of farmland was losing steam since the amount of land purchased by the region continues to grow. He explained the Ford government is taking power away from municipalities and land away from farmers, which is only fuelling the fight.

“The question is what can anyone do to get Doug Ford to change his mind when he’s got an absolute commanding majority? We will continue to speak out. We have legal challenges and countless investigations with every single authority that has ever looked into anything here.”

He added the province’s integrity commissioner, information and privacy commissioner and auditor-general are looking into the land-acquisition process.

“They are confounded and troubled by everything they see here in the approach from government. Just (last week), the region was awarded a dishonourable mention for its lack of transparency from the Canadian Association of Journalists,” Thomason said.

Only the city of Vancouver beat out the Region of Waterloo for top spot.

“When the media industry is calling out the region, this is not in the best interests of our citizens,” he added.

According to the region, there are two farms and three residential properties still to be purchased. When asked how much it will cost to assemble and service the land, it said the amount is not known and depends on what industry is located on the site.