Dozens of tractors roll into Kitchener in protest of Wilmot farmland deal
CBC
In an effort to continue voicing that Wilmot Township is not a willing host for a proposed megasite, affected landowners and their supporters rallied ahead of Wednesday's regional council meeting and this time, they brought tractors.
With help from a police escort, around 40 tractors drove to the Region of Waterloo headquarters in downtown Kitchener from Bleams Road in Wilmot.
Something Kevin Thomason said "hasn't been seen in years if ever in Waterloo Region".
Thomason is the vice-chair of the Grand River Environmental Network.
"Farmers are really angry and concerned they aren't being heard by the Region or province so they are calling out the tractors," he said in an email to CBC News.
The convoy made its way down Highway 7/8 from Wilmot then turned onto Ottawa Street before continuing along Weber Street to the regional building on Frederick Street.
The trip took roughly two hours.
The rally, which began at 6 p.m., saw approximately 500 people turn out for the Fight for Farmland advocacy group's protest.
Many political officials were in attendance including Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner, Waterloo MPP Catherine Fife, as well as the president of the National Farmers Union and the vice-president of the Ontario Farmers Association.
Punkeydoodles Steve also provided live entertainment by performing his song titled 770 Acres, inspired by the farmer's fight to keep their land.
Several farmers and farm organizations are expected to speak as delegates during the council meeting about the land assembly.
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.
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.
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