Hamilton farmland battle expected to impact upcoming by-election

Hamilton residents are getting ready for a new fight over farmland with Premier Doug Ford and his government.

Residents say the provincial by-election coming up in Hamilton East-Stoney Creek is a chance for voters to let the premier know what they think of his development idea.  

This is similar to the Greenbelt battle which protestors won when Greenbelt development plans were dropped.

The government’s Ontario Land Tribunal ruled this week that developers can build on farmland that Hamilton is trying to protect.

It’s forcing the city to extend its boundaries to let the new housing happen.

“Massive loss of farmland, huge impact on the streams and wetlands that feed into the streams that come into Hamilton so probably more flooding, certainly more heat because the cooling effects of rural areas will be eliminated and more congestion generally,” says Don McLean, a Hamilton environmental activist with Stop the Sprawl.

About 4,000 acres of land around Elfrida, south of Rymal Road is one of the areas affected by the ruling.

This is near where the Hamilton East Stoney Creek by-election is set for Sept. 3.

Parties and candidates are lining up on these issues. 

“This is outrageous. This is a premier who has decided to just roll right over the people of Hamilton,” says NDP Leader Marit Stiles.

READ MORE: Former MPP Monique Taylor joins running for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek seat

“Ford had promised we could have Hamilton’s choice and community voices and now he’s changed the rules to allow his developer friends to have access to those lands that we cherish,” says NDP candidate Monique Taylor.

“We just want to save our farmland and our Greenbelt and not enrich Doug Ford and his rich developer friends,” Liberal candidate Heino Doessing posted on Facebook.

Meanwhile, the Green party is calling for a “food belt” to protect the land.

“Think of the food belt as like the greenbelt but for our farmlands. So you’re protecting the farms, you’re protecting the land,” says Pascale Marchand, Green candidate. 

Progressive Conservative candidate Jeff Beattie was on the city council that opposed the development plan. However, critics say he’s now representing the Ford government.

A Polling Canada survey shows the NDP in the lead in the Hamilton East-Stoney Creek race with 35 per cent, the Progressive Conservatives and Liberals tied at 27 per cent and the Greens with three per cent.  

Developmental opponents say this is just one by-election but it’s a chance for people to speak out for farmland.

“It’s still not going to change who’s in government but it can have the effect of giving a message that leads the government to modify its positions,” McLean says.

WATCH MORE: MPP’s Schreiner, Brady take to Hamilton city hall with their bill to protect Ontario’s farmland