Farmers disappointed at lack of consultation, transparency on assembly of prime farmland in Wilmot Township

GUELPH ON – The Waterloo Federation of Agriculture (WFA) and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) are disappointed at the ongoing lack of transparency and consultation in the land use situation in Wilmot Township, a municipality in Waterloo Region.

A consulting firm acting on behalf of the Region of Waterloo has approached farmers and landowners in the area with offers to purchase 770 acres of prime farmland for a yet undisclosed industrial economic development project.

“Investing in agriculture and food production and processing will also create jobs and economic development in Ontario, as well as creating new opportunities for rural communities who are poised to grow,” says farmer and OFA President Drew Spoelstra. “We can’t emphasize enough the need to balance growth with minimizing the ongoing loss of farmland in Ontario and protecting our precious and limited agricultural resources wherever possible.”

Farmland is the cornerstone of Ontario food production. The agri-food sector, which is built around productive agricultural land, contributes $47 billion to the provincial economy and $20 billion in agri-food exports annually, and employs about 10 per cent of Ontario’s work force, supporting more than 750,000 jobs.

Under the Region’s land purchase offer, any landowners who do not agree to sell will see their farmland expropriated for industrial development. The Waterloo Federation of Agriculture’s requests to delegate to Wilmot Township Council and Waterloo Region Council have both been denied and interactions between both Councils and individual farmers have been minimal.

“Farmers in the area have had a positive working relationship with local and regional government for more than 30 years, so it is deeply disappointing that we haven’t been given the opportunity to be part of this process, have our voices heard and contribute to a solution workable to all,” says Nic Weber, local farmer and WFA president. “We all benefit from striking a practical balance between encouraging urban economic development and preserving the farmland that supports not just our rural economy but also contributes strongly to our food security.”

The OFA has been working closely with the WFA, area farmers and affected landowners ever since the Region’s land assembly process for industrial development first came to light earlier this year. The provincial organization takes an active role provincially in advocating for farmland preservation through a responsible land use planning approach that supports economic growth opportunities in areas that are best suited for this type of development and prioritizes farmland use for food production.

“We’ve been calling for a pause on this action so that local farmers and landowners can be consulted, and we’re disappointed at both the lack of transparency around this project and the unwillingness to involve farmers in the process,” says OFA President Drew Spoelstra. “Meeting the growth targets set out for the agri-food sector under the province’s Grow Ontario Strategy will require strategic economic investments to grow the industry, a targeted approach to farmland protection across Ontario’s productive farm landscape and collaboration between all levels of government, landowners and farmers.”

Both the WFA and the OFA are continuing efforts to engage in discussions to identify alternative locations for this development so the loss of productive farmland can be minimized. Community members are encouraged to share any concerns about the proposed rezoning with elected municipal, regional and provincial politicians.

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) represents 38,000 farm families across the province and serves as the leading advocate and strongest voice of Ontario’s farmers. As a dynamic farmer-led organization, the OFA represents and champions the interests of Ontario farmers through government relations, farm policy recommendations, research, lobby efforts, community representation, media relations and more.

The Waterloo Federation of Agriculture (WFA) is one of 51 county and regional federations across the province supported by OFA. WFA represents the voice of agriculture in the local community and advocates on behalf of farm families in the Region of Waterloo on local agricultural issues. The goal of WFA is to promote the farm community in support of the innovation, hard work and compassion that is emblematic of the Region.