September 24 - Community Update
The Region of Waterloo has published Report PDL-ECD-24-007 regarding the destruction of the corn crop on a recently acquired 160-acre farm as part of the Wilmot Land Assembly project.
After reviewing the report, Fight For Farmland is deeply concerned about numerous inaccuracies and omissions. We urge Council to reject the report and have it independently reviewed, as it should not be accepted in its current form.
Key concerns include:
Significant Omissions: The report conveniently ignores all costs and the expenditure of hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to destroy a corn crop just weeks from harvest.
Misleading Claims: The report exaggerates potential job creation and lacks transparency on the land acquisition process. It also fails to properly address the environmental impact of the project, including the unnecessary destruction of a bountiful crop.
Questionable Land Use: It does not justify why the Wilmot site was chosen over better-suited alternatives, such as the East Side Employment Lands, which meet far more of the Ontario Job Site Challenge criteria.
Financial Oversights: The report overlooks the significant financial loss from the destroyed corn crop, estimated at $500,000, as well as the future costs of necessary infrastructure upgrades.
Lack of Transparency: The refusal to release any reports or technical studies and the lack of meaningful consultation with landowners raise serious concerns about the project's viability and ethical basis.
We call on the Region of Waterloo to abandon the Wilmot Land Assembly project, and undertake a proper planning process for a site with far less negative impacts ensuring transparency, proper consultation with local stakeholders, and a genuine consideration of environmental and financial impacts.
Fight For Farmland believes a more thoughtful and responsible approach is necessary to protect both the local environment and the future of our region.
Official opposition NDP MPPs including Catherine Fife and John Vanthof have requested the Auditor General investigate the Wilmot Land Assembly.
We are happy to report that NDP MPPs have sent a letter to the Auditor General of Ontario asking for an investigation and value for the money audit to be launched to determine if provincial plans, and policies are being followed, why the entire process to date has been such a secret lacking any transparency and avoiding any public meetings or consultation, as well as any policies or laws that could have been broken in the process.
It was a similar audit last year that revealed so much corruption in the Greenbelt Scandal. It is hoped that an audit would provide many needed answers, essential oversight and transparency while helping to ensure environmental and financial concerns are better addressed.
Recent Events and Rallies
Doors Open Waterloo - It has been fantastic to see the incredible turnout and impact at recent events. This past Saturday more than 1,200 people attended the Mountain Oak Cheese Doors Open event to see this impressive facility firsthand, sign petitions, get lawn signs, and support this local agricultural business.
Wilmot Township Council Meeting - Last night Wilmot Township Council Chambers were packed to standing room only as concerned citizens once again showed an UNWILLING community firsthand. Susanna Compton gave an incredibly powerful delegation that can be watched online the 2:19:00 mark at:
Upcoming Protests and Rallies
Region of Waterloo Council Meeting: Wednesday, September 25, 2024 @ 7:00 PM – Mark your calendars and join us to keep the pressure on Regional Councillors and Mayors. The agenda includes the report on the destruction of the corn crop. Erin Jackson, the youth delegate who gave such an inspiring presentation at Wilmot Council recently will be Delegating at Waterloo Regional Council this coming Wednesday evening. Our farmers have offered to help provide transportation to the meeting to ensure that other youth can attend and support her delegation. Please reach out to wilmotlandowners@gmail.com if you would like to reserve seats and for more transportation details.
International Plowing Match - October 1st to 4th - Lindsay, Ontario - The Fight For Farmland is looking to see how we can make the most impact at this massive agricultural event where Premier Doug Ford and all MPPs from every party will be in attendance. Please let us know any ideas.
National Farmers Union (NFU) Social Support for Fight for Farmland - Join the NFU for a tour of St Jacobs Foods (3171 Bleams Road) at 1:00pm followed by a tractor parade the parade that will go around the proposed mega site and back to St. Jacobs Foods for a social and refreshments.
Lawn Signs – We are pleased to announce that with all the lawn signs distributed at recent events we have now surpassed more than 4,000 lawn signs in the community. Thank you for showing your support. Pickup more signs from any of our Sign Captains around the region. A full list can be found at:
Rural planning happening – but not including the Wilmot Land Assembly
The Township of Wilmot is developing a new Strategic Plan that will serve the community and provide Wilmot Council with tools for decision-making from 2024 to 2027. This planning has included public meetings on future rural planning, but the Wilmot Land Assembly and proposed absurd mega-site are not included in these meetings. How can we move forward with future planning ignoring the largest development in the history of the Township that will radically alter almost every aspect of life in Wilmot is confounding. We urge Wilmot Council not to waste any more money on a Strategic Plan that could be so out of synch with what is being forced on our communities and to pause all work on the Strategic Plan until the Wilmot Land Assembly is stopped.
In the Media
The Wilmot Land Assembly has gained significant attention, with coverage in national news, including front-page coverage in the Globe & Mail on Friday and significant social media traction:
Mocha Bezirgan: Ontario farmers protest land expropriation – Over 70,000 views in just a few days
The London Free Press: Public good questionable when farmland expropriated for industry
Rumble Video: Fight for Farmland - Wilmot, Ontario – A powerful video on the Wilmot Land Assembly concerns
CityNews: “Timelines Did Not Allow For A Delay”: Report Released On Wilmot Corn-Crop Destruction
Thanks for all the great support and efforts this past week. Please keep speaking up for the future you want to see!