Region of Waterloo Wastes Millions on Controversial Mega-Industrial Project as Industry Retreats from Canada

Wilmot Township, – The Region of Waterloo held only its second press conference in over a year on its highly controversial mega-industrial land assembly in Wilmot Township — a project strongly opposed by thousands of residents and landowners who have made it clear they are not willing hosts.

In a closed-door media briefing with select journalists placed under embargo, the Region revealed it still hasn’t secured all the land required. It admitted that even after months of pressure and secrecy, it only recently gained access to some parcels for study — confirming that critical assessments and planning remain incomplete for one of the largest projects in regional history.

The Region also confirmed it has no end-user or buyer for the land and couldn't answer questions about project costs or infrastructure funding, raising further alarm over the potential misuse of hundreds of millions — possibly billions — in public dollars.

This announcement comes amid growing economic uncertainty. Just one day earlier, Honda Canada paused its $15 billion EV plant plans, while Northvolt’s Quebec battery project went bankrupt, and GM’s CAMI EV truck plant remains closed. These developments cast further doubt on the Region’s push for industrial megaprojects.

“This looks like another government failure wasting millions on something unlikely to happen,” said Kevin Thomason, Vice-Chair of the Grand River Environmental Network. “It’s déjà vu of the Pickering Airport debacle — decades of damage, then abandonment.”

Local communities have already suffered due to a complete lack of transparency: no public meetings, denied FOI requests, and ongoing investigations into potentially illegal conduct by the Region and Province.

Despite this, local resistance remains strong, protecting farmland, with “We are NOT a Willing Host” and “Save our Farmland” signs displayed widely. The Fight for Farmland movement continues to grow through legal challenges, events, delegations, and protests — especially in light of new threats from Bills 5 and 17, which expand Ministerial powers and override crucial environmental and heritage protections.

We urge citizens to continue speaking up to protect our farmland, water, and democracy — and to demand a better plan for our community’s future.