09/01/2026
You know it's bad when the farmers get mad.
In August, 2026 the Ontario Land Tribunal ruled that Hamilton is directed to expand our urban boundary onto 3953 acres of prime farmland.
The decision was enabled by a Provincial Bill passed in 2024: Bill 185, "Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act".
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture and the Hamilton-Wentworth Federation of Agriculture shot back with a joint letter that doesn't mince words:
"We are deeply disappointed by the Tribunal’s decision to expand Hamilton’s urban boundary. We recognize and appreciate that Hamilton City Council has repeatedly supported maintaining its existing urban boundary and, most recently, rejected the White Church and Elfrida expansion applications."
"Ontario has a finite supply of prime agricultural land. Less than five per cent of the province's land base is suitable for agricultural production, and the pressures on that land continue to grow. Decisions made today about where and how our communities expand will determine whether future generations retain the capacity to produce food close to home."
Please write to your Provincial MPP and remind them that Hamilton's prime farmland is not "red tape".
It must be preserved for now, and for future generations. Once it's paved, it's gone for good.
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