APRIL 5 - PROGRESS UPDATE
We are pleased to provide you with an update on the progress of our landowner's group along with key facts and plans currently underway.
Email & Communications
Moving forward, we aim to provide weekly updates to keep everyone informed of our progress. Additionally, we will be sending regular email blasts to our extensive list of contacts to disseminate factual information and promote transparent communication within our community.
Signs & Outreach
Our lawn sign distribution efforts led by Sign Coordinator Stephanie Szusz and her network of volunteer sign captains have been successful. To date, we have distributed 600 lawn signs with more on the way. Signs can be picked up at designated locations listed on fightforfarmland.com. We will be sending out an email blast to announce when more signs are available. Our volunteers are also actively engaging with the community at local markets such as Kitchener and St. Jacobs, collecting signatures for the petition and distributing signs. This weekend MPP Catherine Fife came out to the market to extend her support for our group. Thank you and we are so grateful to all volunteers for their incredible efforts in raising visibility within the community.
Steering Committee
A steering committee has been established to organize and prioritize the needs of our group and community. This committee is working to address issues related to expropriation, new legislation, environmental concerns, agricultural industry challenges, and more. Key members of the steering committee include:
Kevin Thomason
Steve Bottoms
Mark Reusser
Alfred Lowrick
Stewart Snyder
Jacqueline Snyder
Stephanie Szusz
Representatives at Queen’s Park
Members of the steering committee had the opportunity to engage with numerous Members of Provincial Parliament, which led to establishing a connection with Senator Black. You can watch a brief YouTube session showcasing the scope of our communication efforts:
Catherine Fife was notably vocal during these sessions, drawing attention to and questioning the use of expropriation for prime farmland.
Morningside Residents Meetings
The residents of Morningside Community have requested our group to organize a town hall meeting to discuss the issue. Alfred Lowrick, Kevin Thomason, and other members of the steering committee have hosted meetings with the community, sharing essential information and distributing signs to raise awareness about our cause.
Press Coverage
We have been incredibly fortunate to have dedicated reporters overing our story and providing fantastic media coverage for our cause. Premier Doug Ford recently commented on our situation, expressing his concerns about the handling of land assembly. He emphasized the importance of willing participation from all parties involved.
Here are a few recent media highlights showcasing our ongoing efforts and progress:
CKCO CTV News - Wilmot Farmland Owners Still In The Dark About Next Steps On Expropriation:
CityNews - More Land In Wilmot Could Be At Risk Than 770 Acres: Grand River Environmental Network:
The Record - “A Horrific Plan” - Wilmot Farmers And Their Supporters Rally To Fight Region And Township:
more news articles at the bottom of the blog.
Online Petition - The online petition has almost 30,000 signatures already! Please sign and promote it:
https://www.change.org/p/stop-appropriation-targeting-wilmot-township-farmland
We’re here for you!
Have a question or concern? email us at wilmotlandowners@gmail.com
Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to making further progress and keeping you updated on our efforts.
Best regards,
Jacqueline Snyder
On behalf of the Fight For Farmland Group
Recent News Continued…
CKCO CTV News - Regional Chair Breaks Silence On Wilmot Township Farmland Expropriation: https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/regional-chair-breaks-silence-on-wilmot-township-farmland-expropriation-1.6832370
CityNews - Residents, Local Politicians Gather In Wilmot Over Land Expropriation Concerns: https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2024/04/04/residents-local-politicians-gather-in-wilmot-over-land-expropriation-concerns/
The Record - Business Leaders Say Wilmot Land Assembly Essential:
CKCO CTV News - Business Leaders Get Behind Waterloo Region’s Plan To Buy Up Wilmot Farmland:
The National Post - Private Land Is Sometimes Take For The Public Good, And That’s OK:
The Record - Waterloo Region Already Has Lots Of Land Set Aside For Industrial Expansion So Why Is It Looking For More Land From Wilmot Farms?:
The Record - Wilmot Land Assembly A Betrayal Of A Sacred Trust:
The Record - Wilmot Expropriation Will Take Far Longer Than Planned:
The Record - McLean Insulted People Who Are Concerned About Wilmot Expropriation. But Maybe He Also Did Us A Favour:
CTV CKCO - Wilmot Council Responds To Community Concern Over Region’s Land Buy:
The Record - Region of Waterloo Recruiting New Manager For Industrial Land Reserves And Affordable Housing:
CityNews - Premier Ford Supports Region’s Land Assembly Efforts In Wilmot Township:
CTV CKCO News - Ford Addresses Wilmot Land Acquistion Controversy
https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/ford-addresses-wilmot-land-acquisition-controversy-1.6843353
The Record - “There’s No Companies That Are Waiting To Get The Land” Premier Doug Ford Offers Support For Land Assembly, But Disagrees With Process Unfolding In Wilmot:
Mike Farwell - How Many Jobs Is Wilmot Farmland Worth?
Queen’s Park Today - Waterloo Region Threatens Expropriation After PCs Ask:
PDF Attached Below
The Record - Doug Ford’s Comments Make The Wilmot Land Assembly Even Harder To Understand: