Wilmot Township releases statement about ongoing farmland expropriation

The Township of Wilmot has broken its silence about the ongoing farmland expropriation saga by the Region of Waterloo.

In a media release issued Wednesday afternoon on behalf of Wilmot council and Mayor Natasha Salonen, the mayor’s office and council are thanking those who have reached out to express concern about the ongoing situation.

“The Township of Wilmot would like to thank the residents who have reached out and expressed interest regarding the land acquisition discussions taking place in Wilmot.

As many know, the Region of Waterloo has been negotiating with some landowners in Wilmot regarding the sale of land. Those negotiations, like all real estate transactions, take place one-on-one. The Township is not, and should not, be involved directly in those discussions and subsequent transactions.

That said, we know there is considerable concern about the absence of information available in the public domain.

As your government representatives at the local level, we continue to advocate on behalf of landowners, ensuring that the process is fair and equitable. To that end, the Township of Wilmot continues to bring the thoughts, opinions and concerns of landowners and Wilmot residents to the Region of Waterloo.

Wilmot Township will, therefore, only be able to provide i[dates on this matter when there is significant new information to share. Thank you.”

The message from the township is the latest chapter in the ongoing land acquisition attempt by the Region of Waterloo.

On Apr. 4, local politicians and Wilmot residents held a public meeting sharing their concerns about the region looking to potentially expropriate farmland in Wilmot.

Apr. 5, the local economic support team, Business and Economic Support Team of Waterloo Region (BESTWR) released an open letter supporting the land acquisition in Wilmot Township.

CityNews 570 reached out to the mayor’s office for an interview but it was declined.