Mr. Speaker, it is always an honour to rise on behalf of the people of Simcoe-Grey and cite specifically those in Clearview Township.
I present a petition from the residents who are opposing the location of an over-the-horizon radar system. The Department of National Defence has bought one large swath of land of over 700 acres that is prime farm agricultural land and plans to build over-the-horizon. That would be phase one. In phase two, it will be up to approximately another 3,000 acres. Many of the residents are fearful of expropriation and what that will do.
All of the petitioners understand that there is a balance between food security and national security. They realize, from looking at a map, there are other locations out there. They may cost money, but for them and future generations, we need to save this land. It is right beside the Minesing Wetlands as well, so there are a lot of issues with this particular area.
The petitioners are calling on the government to stop the building of the over-the-horizon site on the already purchased property, prevent future acquisition of prime farmland and the building of the over-the-horizon site on the prime farmland of Clearview Township and register the previously purchased property with the Ontario Farmland Trust to preserve its agricultural status.