'We need our farmland,' regional council told amid protest over Wilmot land deal

A group of landowners and supporters gathered outside Region of Waterloo headquarters and inside a council meeting Wednesday night to protest the region's plan to purchase farmland in Wilmot Township.

Roughly 40 farmers and supporters lined Frederick Street in Kitchener, Ont., with signs in hand ahead of the meeting.

"We've been doing this for the last three months and nothing is happening," said Eva Wagler, co-owner of St. Jacobs Foods in New Hamburg. 

"So here we are again. We're not getting tired. I think they're trying to tie us up and that's not happening."

Wagler's farm isn't facing potential expropriation, but it is across the streets from the affected lands. 

In March, 12 landowners of six farmland properties and six residential properties were told the Region of Waterloo plans to purchase their land. In total, the region is pursuing 770 acres (roughly 311 hectares) of land in Wilmot Township near the intersection of Nafziger Road and Bleams Road, south of New Hamburg.

If the landowners refuse to sell, they have been told their land would be expropriated.

The region has said it needs the land for future industrial projects, but has not provided specific details.

The plan has been praised by some local business leaders but criticized by some of the landowners, their supporters and politicians including Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles. Two Wilmot Township councillors have called on the region to be more transparent about their plans.

Fran Strassburger was one of the protesters on Wednesday. She owns 10 hectares (25 acres) of land being sought by the region. 

"They're taking livelihood away, homes away from our industry. I don't think it's right," she said. "It's like living in limbo. You don't know whether to continue along with your home or what to do."

'Kept in the dark'

Waterloo resident Susanna Compton spoke during delegation on behalf of the affected landowners. 

She told CBC News before the meeting that she grew up on a farm across the road from the proposed assembly site. 

"It's about the disrespect that the farmers have been shown. They have been just kept in the dark the entire time. The whole process has just been so disrespectfully done," she said. 

"I think that we need to find ways to use the land that acknowledges the environment, the agriculture, as well as the need for development."

While speaking at the regional council meeting, Compton highlighted the region's history of being a hub for innovation. 

But, she added, "If we intend to grow the region to one million ready by 2050, those people are going to need to eat. And it should not be an unaffordable privilege to purchase local produce because so much farmland is gone. We need our farmland."

Regional councillors did not comment on the topic after Compton spoke. 

CBC News previously reached out to the Region of Waterloo for comment and received an emailed statement that reiterated the "land assembly effort is a generational project for the economic future of our region."