Group releasing documentary regarding controversial Wilmot land acquisition

A new group has formed to fight the Wilmot land assembly. Jeff Pickel tells us why they've created a mini-documentary to get across their message.

A new group of concerned citizens is adding their voices to the chorus of people speaking out against the Region of Waterloo’s plan to convert 770 acres of agricultural land into a plot for future development.

The Wilmot Civic Action Network is primarily made up of neighbours and community members who want to stand alongside the farmers by taking their message to the screen and producing a mini-documentary series.

“We felt there needed to be a more, I don’t want to say forceful – a stronger voice in regard to the farmers, and advocating for what’s going on here with the Wilmot land assembly,” said John Jordan with the Wilmot Civil Action Network.

Jordan lives across the road from one of the properties included in the land acquisition.

“We want to be the voice in conjunction with the farmers,” he told CTV News Friday. “[We want to] take a little bit of the stress away from them, that they’re not having to deal with the day-to-day issues and the advocacy and the protests and everything that has been going on.”

The group has already uploaded the first part of what they said will be a three-part series shot and produced by Thom Varey.

“We’ve had people at meetings from well outside of Wilmot Township. [They] are interested in what’s going on here,” Jordan said.

The region has defended its decision to pursue the land acquisition numerous times. Worried residents have repeatedly criticized the process, calling it secretive and untransparent.

The region has repeatedly said it is limited in what it can share with residents and the public because it is bound by non-disclosure agreements.

Vic Fedeli, Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, previously confirmed the province is involved in the process by providing necessary funding. But he also said: “It’s up the local municipality, in this case the region, to do the ground game. Period.”

So far, a handful of property owners within those 770 acres have agreed to sell their land.

Jordan believes the remainder will refuse.

“They’ve dug in their heels. They’re not selling.”

The second part of the documentary series is expected to be released next week.