Provincial ministers call out region over 'lack of transparency' in Wilmot Township land purchase
Ministers say it's 'disappointing to see recent events unfold in Wilmot and the Region of Waterloo'
Two provincial ministers say there has been a "lack of transparency" by the Region of Waterloo about its plans to purchase lands in Wilmot Township.
In a joint statement released Thursday morning, Kitchener-Conestoga MPP and Minister of Red Tape Reduction Mike Harris and Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Vic Fedeli confirmed the province is providing the region with funding.
But they say beyond that, the province is not involved in the land purchase process.
"While the province is supporting the Region of Waterloo with funding help purchase the land, it is the sole responsibility of the region to assemble the site and work collaboratively with all affected communities and stakeholders," the statement reads.
"The same approach was taken in St. Thomas for Volkswagen's investment, a project that was twice the size and required no expropriation."
Their statement comes after a landowners group accused provincial officials of providing conflicting statements on their role in the deal.
The Region of Waterloo wants to buy 770 acres (roughly 311 hectares) in Wilmot Township for future industrial use. The region has not said what specifically the land would be used for in the future.
Harris and Fedeli said they felt a clarification was necessary "given the region's lack of transparency in its land assembly process."
"It is disappointing to see recent events unfold in Wilmot and the Region of Waterloo, particularly the threat of expropriation at the onset of this process," the statement said.
"While we wholeheartedly support municipalities in their efforts to attract these investments and create good-paying jobs, we want to underline that they must always be conducted in a fair and respectful manner. This is a principle we strongly uphold, and we urge the Region of Waterloo to do the same."
Landowners approached in March
Back in March, 12 landowners who live near the intersection of Nafziger Road and Bleams Road say they were visited by a representative from the private Mississauga-based company Canacre, which says on its website that it helps navigate complex infrastructure projects through the regulatory process.
The person told them the region wanted to buy their properties. The landowners received compensation offers, which some believed were minimal for what the land is worth.
If the landowners refused the offer, they were told their land would be expropriated.
Opposition parties criticize government's response
Green Party of Ontario deputy leader Aislinn Clancy issued a statement Thursday afternoon saying if the province is funding the land acquisition, "it has the duty to ensure that project is carried out in a responsible manner."
"To now be shrinking responsibility in an attempt to score political points is disrespectful to everyone involved, especially to the farmers who have been fighting for months to protect their lands and livelihoods," Clancy said.
The statement adds the province and region need to work together with the local community to find a more suitable development location for future projects.
"Greens stand with the many farmers and community advocates calling on the Ford government to work with the Region to do the right thing - stop the expropriation and protect our countryside line," concludes Clancy's statement.
NDP Leader Marit Stiles said "we all knew and suspected the government was behind" the deal in the region.
The government is "driving the push to expropriate land across this province and let's not forget, this is critical farmland," Stiles said during a media availability Thursday at Queen's Park.
WATCH | Closed-door negotiations for Wilmot lands 'really shameful,' Ontario NDP leader says:
"We need a strategy to actually support farmers, not seize their land," she added.
"This kind of short-sighted plan with very little information. In fact, mostly it's happening behind closed doors and the people there don't really know what's going on at all. That's really shameful, I think, and I hope that the government sees that this can't continue and changes course because the people of Wilmot, but really rural people across this province, deserve a lot better than that."
WATCH | 'We fund it and we stand away,' Minister Fedeli says of Wilmot land purchase:
Local support of land assembly
The plan has been applauded by a group called BESTWR, which is made up of the heads of local chambers of commerce, the Waterloo Economic Development Corp., Communitech and Explore Waterloo Region.
The group wrote in an April 5 open letter that "this is a critical time" in the region "that requires bold action."
"We are on the path to one million residents and this inevitable growth requires investment and, most importantly, jobs," the letter said. "Preparing shovel-ready land is critical and will be pivotal to the ongoing success of our future economy and communities across Waterloo region."
Despite claiming there is no secured investor for the land yet, the region has said previously the shovel-ready land is necessary because "over the last several years, Waterloo region has lost potential investment opportunities from major employers" due to not having appropriate sites available.
While the elected provincial figures applaud the idea of economic growth, they say it was gone about the wrong way.
"While we wholeheartedly support municipalities in their efforts to attract these investments and create good-paying jobs, we want to underline that they must always be conducted in a fair and respectful manner," reads the release.
"This is a principle we strongly uphold, and we urge the Region of Waterloo to do the same."
Political comments
The statement from Harris and Fedeli comes after affected landowners questioned the province's involvement in the project earlier this week.
On Aug. 7 during a stop in Cambridge for a funding announcement, Minister of Agriculture, Agri-Food and Agri-Business Rob Flack was asked whether or not the province was funding the purchase of the land.
"I believe we're supporting the purchasing of the land," Flack told reporters, though he couldn't give a dollar amount invested.
His comments sparked the Fight for Farmland group to issue a media release of their own on Aug. 13, claiming cabinet ministers had provided contradictory information.
"This is in stark contrast to numerous statements made by Minister of Red Tape Reduction Mike Harris Jr. who has consistently claimed for months that this is a local Township of Wilmot and Region of Waterloo initiative with no provincial involvement," reads the group's release.
"Despite already widespread opposition to the project, there has been increasing calls for it not to be foisted on such unwilling farmers and unwilling landowners as well as such an unwilling community."
In April, Premier Doug Ford addressed the WIlmot land assembly efforts when stopping in Kitchener for a separate funding announcement.
"A lot of smaller towns like, for instance Wilmot, they need money. So what better way than clear some land and create some development," Ford said. "I'm all for it."
WATCH | Premier Doug Ford answers question about Wilmot land purchase
When asked about farmer's concerns about having their lands potentially expropriated, Ford said that could have been handled differently.
"There has to be a willing host for these big companies worldwide that are looking to invest in Ontario," he said. "If they're not willing, then just move on. That's what it comes down to."
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With files from Kate Bueckert