Over 40 farm tractors trundled into downtown Kitchener on August 28 in a show of protest against a land assembly in Wilmot Township.
A land assembly is when a purchaser acquires multiple adjacent properties, usually for a large development. The Region of Waterloo is buying up land in Wilmot Township, Waterloo County, to attract industry, and the demonstration showed that there is opposition to the plan.
The Region of Waterloo says that gathering land through market purchase or expropriation will allow them to secure generational investment that will result in thousands of well-paying jobs. Farmers argue the land assembly threatens their land, livelihood and way of life. The farmers and their supporters are concerned what they say is the Region and the province’s lack of transparency and intimidation attempts.
Organized by ‘Fight for Farmland,’ the protest featured attracted over 200 people, many on tractors.
After the protest, Regional Council discussed the topic in a closed to the public session. CKMS News attended the protest and the council meeting.
