Waterloo, ON — The Fight For Farmland group expresses deep disappointment and growing concern as the Region of Waterloo has once again denied Freedom of Information Requests (FIR), marking the second time that vital information has been withheld from the public. This latest denial comes a day after the deadline for response and follows a troubling pattern of 21 previously rejected FIRs.
"We are continually disappointed by the lack of transparency surrounding this proposed industrial mega-site," said Alfred Lowrick, spokesperson for the Fight For Farmland group. "Despite two Wilmot Township Councillors standing up and thousands of people in our community demanding more transparency, our basic questions remain unanswered for the second time. This ongoing secrecy is deeply troubling and raises serious concerns about what the Region might be hiding. We are left to wonder if the necessary investigations, studies, and research have even been conducted for this massive proposal, which could have such profound impacts on our community."
The community's concerns are further heightened by the provincial Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) imposed from the onset, which has effectively muzzled elected officials and staff. Despite these challenges, the Fight For Farmland group remains committed to seeking transparency and accountability. The group has requested investigations and is in conversations with the Information and Privacy Commissioner, the Integrity Commissioner, and the Provincial Ombudsman.
Already, the Region has admitted that there is no confirmed customer for the industrial mega-site, essential studies and planning have not been completed, and there has yet to be a single public meeting on what could be one of the largest and most expensive developments in the history of Waterloo Region. In a recent development, the province itself expressed disappointment in the process, citing the lack of transparency and the Region’s threats of expropriation. The Region, in turn, expressed shock and confusion, admitting that the province has been leading the entire process despite a restrictive NDA.
"This outlandish project has been bungled every step of the way," says Kevin Thomason, Vice-Chair, Grand River Environmental Network. "Our community is unwilling, and we demand that this absurd mega-site be relocated to a much less costly location with far fewer negative impacts, using proper planning processes.”
The Fight For Farmland group will continue to fight for transparency and accountability, ensuring that the voices of the community are heard and respected.
Large citizen rallies are planned for the next Wilmot Township Council meeting on Monday, August 26th at 5:30pm in Baden and at the next Region of Waterloo Council meeting on Wednesday, August 28th at 6:00pm at Regional Headquarters in Kitchener to show firsthand our communities are unwilling.
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