Advocates filed 21 requests for information about Wilmot farmland deal. The region denied nearly all of them
CBC
A group of people concerned about plans by the Region of Waterloo to buy farmland in Wilmot Township say they're being denied information about the project.
The group called Fight for Farmland says it filed 21 freedom of information requests with the regional municipality. Of those, 18 "were denied entirely" while three came back as having "no record" or information, the group said.
"The region's unusual denial of these requests raises serious concerns about the transparency and legality of their actions," the group said in an emailed statement sent to CBC News.
"Is the region withholding this information because critical steps in the land acquisition process have not been taken? Why are they keeping constituents and citizens in the dark?"
A freedom of information request is when an individual or group requests access to government-held information. The Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act says the purpose of the law is to make information available that should be public.
In some cases, a municipality can refuse to disclose a record. That could include if the request:
In an emailed statement, a spokesperson for the Region of Waterloo told CBC News conversations with landowners "remain confidential, which is common practice in professional real estate negotiations."
"We remain committed to sharing more information as we are able and the project progresses. Information regarding the importance of assembling shovel-ready land and all available project details are available on our website," the statement said.
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.
WATCH | This Wilmot farmer could lose almost a third of his property to land expropriation:
The group Fight For Farmland says it believes the information it was asking for "should already be public knowledge." They said the requests included:
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