Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of the good people of Simcoe—Grey to present a petition.
The Department of National Defence has purchased over 700 acres of prime farmland in the Township of Clearview and will need up to another 3,000 acres to finish the over-the-horizon project. There are many concerns environmentally. The Minesing Wetlands are right beside this property. As well, we often hear about food security. This will be a huge chunk of land, and certainly the people in the riding are not interested in selling the 3,000 acres. They fear there will be expropriation of these properties. There is nowhere else for the people to go.
The petitioners are asking for a stop to the building of the over-the-horizon site, for other options in other areas, for prevention of future acquisition of prime farmland or any building of the over-the-horizon site on prime farmland in Clearview Township, and for registration of the previously purchased property with the Ontario Farmland Trust to preserve its agricultural status.