70% of Wilmot farmland secured for future industrial site, region says
Negotiations for shovel-ready farmland have been largely confidential on the region's end
The Region of Waterloo says it has secured 70 per cent of the land it wants in Wilmot Township as part of its plans to create an industrial site for future use.
In a media release Wednesday, regional Chair Karen Redman said this is a "major milestone" that gets the region "significantly closer to securing long-term investment and economic prosperity locally."
"It is imperative, now more than ever, that Waterloo region be ready to support Canadian manufacturing and well-paying, local jobs," Redman said.
The region says it has entered into an agreement to purchase the land at this point.
The announcement follows a contentious land battle in Wilmot Township that started last year. In March 2024, 12 landowners of six farmland properties and six residential properties were told the region wanted to purchase their land.
Affected landowners received compensation offers from the region and were told that if they refused to sell, their land could potentially be expropriated.
In the release Wednesday, the region said it is "committed to ensuring fair and equitable agreements for landowners."
The region has been working to acquire 770 acres of land (312 hectares) near the intersection of Nafziger Road and Bleams Road for future industrial use. The region maintains it has lost out on potential investment opportunities from major players in the past because of their lack of shovel-ready land.
According to the region, the area was chosen for several reasons, including:
- A large, contiguous development footprint.
- Immediate access to Highway 7/8 and arterial transportation routes.
- Existing hydro, water, and wastewater infrastructure.
- Location outside water protection areas.
The region initially planned to have all land purchased by August 2024. In July 2024, the region had announced on-site technical analysis was set to take place after it had purchased nearly one-third of the 770 acres it said it needed.
WATCH | Wilmot tractors travel to Kitchener for farmland protest:
The situation so far
A complicated road followed the region's initial announcement that they would acquire the land needed for development. Some groups, like farmers as well as provincial and federal elected politicians, opposed the project and said it would negatively impact farmland, food growth and water access.
This was bolstered in July 2024 when the region faced criticism for plowing over a corn crop after it purchased a farm.
On Wednesday, the region responded to that criticism by saying "planting will continue on lands where appropriate. No existing crop will be removed and any existing crop will be harvested when ready."
During a media briefing Wednesday, Redman said "the voices that I'm hearing from are people that are very excited. This is good news. This is about preparing for the future."
Some groups saw the land acquisition effort as necessary progress for the region in the wake of a population boom.
A group called Best WR —comprised of the presidents of local chambers of commerce, economic development, Communitech and Explore Waterloo Region — penned an open letter in April 2024 supporting the region's plans. They said business opportunities were actively being lost by the region's lack of co-ordination and available space.
The region also noted that new industrial projects would create more jobs and help support the growing population of residents. The region is projected to hit one million residents by 2051.
The region has not disclosed any other specifics about how the land would be used and has said there is no company wanting to use the land.
Redman acknowledged Wednesday there has "never been an identified end user" but noted that the region has historically lost money by turning down potential developers because they didn't have any available space.
"We're looking at how we can be shovel-ready for whatever investment comes along," Redman said.
Fight for Farmland, a group advocating against expropriation of Wilmot lands, believed that negotiations wouldn't pick back up until after the Ontario provincial election. Although the region is in charge of the land purchase process, it was confirmed that the province was providing the funding.
As Premier Doug Ford's Progressive Conservatives clinched another mandate in February, a new consideration loomed overhead: Bill 5, the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, would give cabinet power to exempt itself from laws on certain projects by designating them "special economic zones."
Until now, many Region of Waterloo councillors found themselves unsure of what they were able to say in public about the plans to purchase farmland. They said in September 2024 that they were restricted by a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
Wilmot Township councillors had also called for more transparency from the region about plans to buy farmland.
Redman said that the region's goal is to be "transparent with the community." In the future, she said to expect more on-the-ground analysis of the land that could include trucks and bore holes being dug.
"There will be due diligence done on the land that we have now acquired," she said.
Clarifications
- An earlier version of this story said the region has purchased the land. In fact, the region has entered into an agreement to purchase the land.May 15, 2025 1:23 PM EDT
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