Wilmot expropriation will take longer than planned
Region wanted land assembly complete in August but unlikely: lawyer
It will take longer than planned for the Region of Waterloo and Wilmot Township to complete a controversial land assembly now underway, says an expert in expropriation law.
When a private-sector consultant hired by the region, Canacre, delivered offers to property owners in Wilmot Township last month, they said the region wanted the land from the six farms and six residential properties by August.
“That’s not a realistic timeline, that is not going to happen on that timeline,” said Liviu Cananau, a Toronto-based lawyer who specializes in municipal law, land acquisition and expropriation.
The Region of Waterloo and Wilmot Township are assembling 770 acres bounded by Bleams Road, Nafziger Road, Highway 7/8 and Wilmot Centre Road. The regional and township councillors say they cannot talk about it, but a statement was released saying the land assembly is needed to create a shovel-ready site for a large economic investment that will benefit the region.
The region offered about $35,000an-acre, and none of the property owners accepted it by the March 20 deadline. And so far, none of them have received a notice of expropriation from the region.
In an information sheet given to the farmers last month, the region says timelines are tight so it may expropriate the properties and negotiate compensation later. But even then, Cananau does not think the region can hit that deadline.
“So, their best-case scenario is end-of-year.,” he said in a telephone interview from Toronto. “Best case — and that’s optimistic.”
Part of the expropriation process includes what's called a Hearing of Necessity, and only the provincial government can waive that hearing.
“Assuming the Hearing of Necessity has not been waived by the province, then that will take some time, that will take several months to play out,” said Cananau.
Business leaders released an open letter last Friday in support of the land assembly.
The farmers and their supporters have vowed to fight the expropriation of farmland. No public consultations were held, and none are planned.