Achi news desk-
Karen Redman addressed Waterloo Region’s controversial plan to purchase farmland in Wilmot Township in an email to Concerned Citizens.
Property owners fought against the proposal to buy 770 acres of land between Neftziger Road, Belims Road and Wilmot Center Road. Exact plans for the property have not been made public.
The letter, sent from the Waterloo Region chairman’s email address to Nith Valley EcoBoosters members, was subsequently forwarded to CTV News. It said the region remains committed to balancing “the protection of our natural environment with facilitating economic opportunities to support a high quality of life for residents.”
Nith Valley EcoBoosters first came to the area to express their concerns about the possible environmental impact of any development on the farmland.
“We feel compelled to act when we see our water sources, natural areas and agricultural lands threatened,” the group wrote. “We see this happening now with the planned acquisition of land in Wilmot.”
In her response, Redman said shovel-ready land is critical to ensuring future investment and jobs that support community growth.
“Since 2021, Waterloo Region has received many inquiries requesting large-scale parcels for development, which directly address the urgent need for this type of land,” Redman explained. “There is not or will be any current or future shovel-ready land located within the Regional Recharge Area, which is critical to our water supply. The Regional Official Plan protects our water sources and ensures an adequate supply of high-quality agricultural land remnants. In general, this area is very suitable for development and future investments in light of the proximity to arterial transportation and existing infrastructure, and the connection to the skilled workforce of the Waterloo region.”
Redman also said she could not “talk specifically about the location or size of the area at this time” due to the landowners’ privacy concerns.
She added that additional information and engagement opportunities will occur as soon as possible after all the necessary consultations are done.
The Nith Valley EcoBoosters wrote back to Redman with a list of questions they didn’t feel were answered in her email. They asked about the due diligence of the area so far, how food security and water protection will be addressed if there is development on the land, and additional locations proposed for development.
CTV News has reached out to Waterloo Region for further comment on the matter. They confirmed the content of Redman’s email and shared the specific section of the regional official plan she cited: “The region, in collaboration with the province, regional municipalities, local service providers and the Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation will work to identify and plan suitable ‘mega-sites’ to support new strategic employment uses.” on a large scale that complement the regional economy. Such sites typically range from 200 to 400 dunams and support large-scale manufacturing operations.” They added: “Due to the size needed for large-scale industrial projects, sites within the city limits cannot be accommodated.”
Property being considered for future “shovel ready projects” in Wilmot.
Continued calls for reconsideration
On Tuesday, the Waterloo Region Labor Council wrote an open letter to the region expressing their concern about the potential expropriation of the 770 acres.
“As farmland becomes a more depletable resource, we lose our ability to feed our population,” the letter reads in part. “When some of the most fertile land for growing crops in the entire country exists in the city of Wilmot, we question why the land proposed for expropriation is happening, as it already serves an important purpose with respect to the long-term sustainability of the Waterloo region.”
The letter also asked whether the chosen land was against Waterloo Region’s environmental, sustainability and climate change initiatives.
“The impact of this decision has the potential for long-term consequences not only for the residents of the Town of Wilmot, but also for Waterloo Region,” the Waterloo Regional Labor Board said. “We respectfully request that Waterloo Region cease its actions to expropriate this agricultural land in the city of Wilmot.”
An online petition, called Stop Appropriation Targeting Wilmot Township Farmland, has already surpassed 20,000 signatures.
