Petition to Halt Military Radar on Ontario Farmland Advances to House of Commons
A grassroots petition demanding the Canadian military abandon plans to construct a controversial radar system on prime Ontario farmland is making its way to Parliament, highlighting growing tensions between national defense priorities and agricultural preservation.
Community Opposition to Defense Department Plans
The Department of National Defence seeks to acquire up to 1,620 hectares (4,000 acres) of valuable farmland in Clearview Township near Wasaga Beach, Ontario, for its Over-the-Horizon missile radar system. This ambitious project has sparked significant resistance from local residents, farmers, and municipal politicians who argue the land acquisition would devastate the region's agricultural economy and community fabric.
Petition organizer Terri Jackman emphasized the profound impact this development would have, stating: "Farming really is our lifeblood. In our humble opinion it would be much easier to locate the radar at existing military installations than taking out 4,000 acres of prime farmland and disrupting the local economy and shattering the local life in this area."
Growing Signature Campaign and Political Support
The petition movement has gained substantial momentum with more than 1,500 signatures collected online and an additional 700 signatures gathered through paper petitions before the January 23 deadline. The document calls for two specific actions:
- An immediate halt to construction of the new radar system on agricultural land
- Federal government intervention to prevent future farmland acquisition for defense projects
Simcoe–Grey Conservative MP Terry Dowdall has committed to introducing the petitions in the House of Commons in the coming weeks, providing formal parliamentary recognition of community concerns.
Communication Breakdown Between Community and Defense Officials
Despite Defense Minister David McGuinty's claims that "major outreach has taken place" including town halls and parliamentary briefings, local residents report feeling largely excluded from meaningful consultation about the multi-billion dollar project.
Community organizers have attempted to arrange direct meetings with DND officials without success, and residents who attended the two organized town halls describe receiving minimal information with many crucial questions remaining unanswered. The Department of National Defence has not provided official comment on the petition or community concerns, while Minister McGuinty's communications director did not respond to requests for comment.
Alternative Locations Proposed
Petition supporters have identified viable alternatives that would preserve farmland while meeting defense needs. They suggest relocating the radar system to either Canadian Forces Base Borden or the military installation at Meaford, both situated near the originally proposed location in Clearview Township.
This proposal represents a compromise approach that would allow the military to advance its Over-the-Horizon radar capabilities while protecting Ontario's agricultural resources and respecting community interests.
The petition's advancement to Parliament marks a significant development in the ongoing debate about balancing national security infrastructure with environmental and agricultural conservation, setting the stage for potential parliamentary discussion about defense project siting policies and community consultation requirements.
