Thursday, October 3, 2024

Ford blames Waterloo for Wilmot land grab


 

Ontario Premier Doug Ford blamed the Waterloo Region and its chair, Karen Redman, for controversies surrounding the attempts to purchase 770 acres in Wilmot Township near New Hamburg for an industrial park.


Ford met with leaders of a group opposing the project and told them “they mishandled the land acquisition from the beginning.”


The group also quoted Ford as saying “I don’t know why all the secrecy going on. I couldn’t figure that one out.”


Local politicians have said they can’t talk about the project because they signed non-disclosure agreements.”


While Ford tried to distance himself from the controversy, it has been clear that it’s provincial money funding it.


Ford may have singled out Redman for criticism because she is chairman of the Waterloo Region and was previously House Leader for the federal Liberal party.


A group of about 20 opponents to the project attended the International Plowing Match near Lindsay where they participated in a parade and where they met with Ford.