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The Wilmot-Tavistock Gazette Serving New Hamburg, Tavistock, Baden, Wellesley, New Dundee, St. Agatha, Shakespeare, Petersburg, Hickson, Punkeydoodle’s Corner and area
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Region of Waterloo councillors getting report on decision to plow over corn crop Region chair says staff are not to blame By Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter More details will soon be released surrounding the controversial move by the region to destroy a 160-acre plot of corn just weeks away from being harvested.
Despite the weather, many car enthusiasts and area residents attended the New Hamburg Board of Trade's Cruise Night Aug. 16 in downtown New Hamburg. See more photos on page 4. Photo by Galen Simmons
Two Ford government ministers criticize Region of Waterloo’s land assembly Region pushes back saying direction came from the province By Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
surrounding the land assembly in the Region of Waterloo.
A joint statement released by two Ontario cabinet ministers is critical of the Region of Waterloo’s process to acquire 770 acres of Wilmot Township farmland.
"It is disappointing to see recent events unfold in Wilmot and the Region of Waterloo, particularly the threat of expropriation at the onset of this process. Given the region's lack of transparency in its land-assembly process, we feel it necessary to clarify our government's involvement in this project,” the statement reads.
Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Vic Fedeli and Minister for Red Tape Reduction Mike Harris released a joint statement clarifying questions
Regional chair Karen Redman said she was surprised and confused by the statement. She added the region recognized early on the people directly impacted were the landowners and the people living in Wilmot. The goal from the start was to be transparent. “We had a communication plan we wanted to roll out which was far more proactive. I understand that in the absence of good Continued on page 2
Wilmot Township Mayor Natasha Salonen’s motion at a recent region meeting was passed unanimously and a public report will be released, likely in early September. She said elected officials should be kept in the loop and she wants to find out if employees at the region attempted to keep the corn until harvest time. “The public has a lot more questions and is continually asking for transparency. I wanted it to be a public report and my motion did pass unanimously. Staff will be bringing back a report that will include mitigation that was taken,” Salonen said. She explained she does not see the investigation as a witch hunt but rather as a turning point and a step toward the public getting more information. The region paid farmers from Strathroy to plow under the corn crop. In a statement, the region said the plowing was required to complete various studies, including topographic surveys and archeological assessments, before closing land-purchase transactions. Continued on page 2