Community Town Hall Meeting Planned For Thursday Evening To Discuss Survey Results And Next Steps

Wilmot, ON – [February 12, 2025] – The strong opposition among Wilmot residents to the proposed expropriation of 770 acres of farmland for a mega-industrial site was revealed again in a recent poll conducted by Pallas Data (January 30-31, 2025).  Wilmot is a rural township in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo in southwestern Ontario where this massive development contrary to all previous planning and farmland protections has been the headline issue for the past year. Stephen Palmateer from the Wilmot Civic Action Network (WilmotCAN) stated, “This data should be a wake-up call for Mike Harris Jr.  The community is seething that the province has tried to hide its involvement, has continued to pass the buck and blame others, and has muzzled the Region as well as the Township under an NDA.  83% of Wilmot residents won’t vote for a candidate who supports this proposed massive destruction of farmland.  If Mike Harris Jr spent any time in his riding he’d know this already.” Key findings from the poll regarding the current provincial election include:

• Across the Kitchener-Conestoga riding, 67% of voters said that they would definitely not vote or might not vote for a candidate who supports the proposed expropriation in the provincial election. Compared to just 14% who said that they might vote or definitely will vote for a candidate who supports it.

• This number jumps to a staggering 83% of voters in Wilmot Township who said that they definitely would not vote or might not vote for a candidate who supports the proposed expropriation in the provincial election. 

• Things get even worse for Conservative MPP Mike Harris Jr. as even 57% of voters who identify as Conservative said that they definitely would not or might not vote for a provincial candidate who supports the proposed expropriation compared to just 21% of Conservatives who said they might vote or definitely would vote for a candidate supporting the industrial mega-site.

• In Wilmot Township 66% of residents said that they do not trust MPP Mike Harris Jr. to represent their interests with only 22% stating they somewhat trust or strongly trust Mike Harris Jr. to represent their interests.

• Astoundingly 38% of Conservatives in Kitchener-Conestoga stated they don’t trust their own Conservative MPP Mike Harris Jr. to represent the interests of Wilmot residents – rising to 86% of NDP supporters and 89% of those who identity as Liberals expressing concerns about trust of Mike Harris Jr.

John Jordan of WilmotCAN stated, “Our community is outraged and it seems even a whole bunch of Conservatives are so concerned about this absurd mega-industrial proposal and the awful way it has been handled by the provincial Conservative government that they aren’t likely to be supporting Mike Harris Jr.  Only 11% of Conservatives are saying they definitely will vote for a candidate supporting this project which could spell trouble for Mike Harris Jr. if he can’t even count on his closest supporters.” In response to these polling results and issues, WilmotCAN is urging MPP Mike Harris Jr. to:

1. Immediately cancel funding or relocate this Wilmot mega-industrial land assembly and the proposed expropriation of 770 acres of farmland,
2. Restore the Region of Waterloo Official Plan and the Countryside Line concept that the province took away from Waterloo Region back on January 1st,
3. Expand the provincial Greenbelt to permanently protect farmland and groundwater in the Waterloo region.

A Community Town Hall Meeting and information session will be held by WilmotCAN to discuss the impacts of the proposed land assembly and next steps: Date & Time:  Thursday, February 13th at 7:00pm (doors open at 6:30pm) Location:  Zion United Church, 215 Peel St., New Hamburg RSVP:  wilmotcan.com/event/open-meeting A link for the online livestream will be available to everyone registered. Provincial election candidates have been invited to discuss the proposed expropriation though as the public has previously observed, the Progressive Conservative candidates seldom participate in public meetings during an election.  By ignoring the voices and concerns of his constituents at this important public meeting, Mike Harris Jr. would be signalling a refusal to accept accountability for his government’s decision to fund the unnecessary expropriation of prime farmland in Wilmot Township. The community’s resolve to protect its agriculture, local food, water, and natural resources continues to dominate local issues as this provincial election polling and recent municipal polling shows firsthand an unwilling community demanding action. -30- Methodology – This report analyzes a survey conducted on January 30-31, 2025, of 302 eligible adult voters in Kitchener-Conestoga.  The survey utilized automated telephone interviews via Interactive Voice Recording (IVR) and included both landline and cellular respondents.  The sample was weighted by age, gender, and region per the 2021 Census to accurately reflect the adult population.  Sponsored by the Small Change Fund, the survey has a margin of error of +/- 5.6% at a 95% confidence level, with higher margins in subsamples. Note that totals may not sum to 100% due to rounding. The Wilmot Civic Action Network (WilmotCAN) – www.wilmotcan.com – unites community groups and neighbours to advocate for transparency, accountability and fiscal responsibility from elected municipal and provincial leaders, representing the thousands of citizens whose voices have been ignored. We are dedicated to restoring transparency, accountability and good governance, fostering collaboration, and promoting a sustainable future for all. Our goal is to build a strong, engaged community that holds its leaders accountable for protecting our essential farmland, surface water and groundwater, which are crucial for water supply, food supply, and a healthy thriving community. Pallas Data – Based in Toronto, Ontario, is a market research firm committed to delivering exceptional value through expert data analysis and industry standards. Our mission is to empower clients with accurate insights, enabling informed decisions that drive urban growth and enhance competitive advantage. We are proud members of the Canadian Research and Insights Council (CRIC), which upholds the highest standards and ethics in the Research, Insights, and Analytics profession.

January 31, 2025 – New Hamburg, ON – The Wilmot Civic Action Network (WilmotCAN) is delighted to present the second episode in our mini documentary series, which sheds further light on the Wilmot Land Grab. In collaboration with the renowned Director of Photography Thom Varey, this episode delves into the crucial beginnings of the farm-to-fork journey, emphasizing the significance of life-sustaining Class 1 prime farmland. This precious resource, making up less than 0.5% of Canada’s land mass, is currently under threat in Wilmot Township and across Ontario. The first episode, which has already garnered over 10,000 views across WilmotCAN’s various platforms, addressed the covert actions of multiple levels of government concerning the controversial mega-industrial project on 770 acres of prime farmland in rural Wilmot Township. This secretive, backroom land assembly defies well-established planning practices and land protections, paralleling the provincial Greenbelt scandal currently being investigated by the RCMP. However, who is qualified to address and investigate Ontario’s alarming and rapid loss of 319 acres of irreplaceable farmland per day? Understanding the significance and vulnerability of the soils that support our rapidly growing province and nation is an essential journey best led by the true experts—farmers, who are the stewards of Class 1 prime farmland, instead of inflexible land developers or enigmatic mega industries that are too often the only voices heard. “We’re not just losing farms, we’re literally stabbing a stake in the heart of the most productive farmland in the country,” said Kevin Thomason. Vice-Chair of the Grand River Environmental Network and WilmotCAN Steering Team member. The third episode of the mini-documentary series will explore the impact of a mega-industrial land assembly in Wilmot on infrastructure and essential surface and groundwater resources. This site has the potential to become one of the largest industrial complexes in the world, raising serious concerns. Alarmingly, these issues have been discussed without any public meetings to address the concerns of local residents. It is scheduled to be released later in February of 2025. In the meantime, watch the first two episodes on YouTube at www.youtube.com/@WilmotCAN, on the WilmotCAN website at www.wilmotcan.com, or the WilmotCAN Facebook Page.   WilmotCAN urges concerned citizens and organizations to speak up and contact elected officials at Wilmot Township, the Region of Waterloo, and the Ontario government to demand the abandonment of this devastating land assembly or its relocation to somewhere with far fewer negative impacts. Support our farmers and insist on proper planning processes with transparency, public engagement, and accountability.