Terry Dowdall

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.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise once again to present another petition. Members are probably hearing this one over and over again. The petition is from the great people of Simcoe—Grey. The petitioners are opposed to the over-the-horizon radar system. They are opposed not the actual system itself, but the location. The Department of National Defence purchased 700 acres, but it may need another 2,600 to 3,000 acres, which would be expropriated. The individuals in the riding are extremely concerned, and they do not think the government has exhausted every opportunity at other locations for this particular over-the-horizon radar system. As well, it is right beside the Minesing Wetlands. It is prime farm agriculture land, and it would totally change the face of Clearview Township as it stands today. The petitioners are asking the government to stop the building of the over-the-horizon radar site on the property that was already purchased, which was roughly 700 acres from one farmer, and prevent the future acquisition of prime farmland and the building of the over-the-horizon radar system in the prime farmland of Clearview Township. There is always a struggle between food security and national security. However, we can never forget how important it is, and we will never get this farmland back.

Mr. Speaker, I rise for the good people of Simcoe—Grey and, more precisely, Clearview Township. I have a petition to present with respect to a deep concern within the community. The Department of National Defence has purchased 700 acres of prime farmland to build an over-the-horizon radar system. That is phase one. In order for phase two to be successful, it needs up to another 3,000 acres. The residents in that area have been asked to sell. They have no interest. Their fear is expropriation, similar to what happened with the Alto rail line. There are deep concerns because it is prime farmland. It is also right beside the Minesing Wetlands, an extreme environmental spot. The petitioners do not think the department has looked at all options in other locations with respect to this. Therefore, they are asking that it stop the building of the over-the-horizon radar site on the already purchased property, prevent future acquisition of prime farmland in building an over-the-horizon site, and register the previously purchased property with the Ontario Farmland Trust to preserve its agricultural status.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank the member opposite for discussing the automotive industry for a small portion of his speech. I know that there is great concern in the county of Simcoe, as host to Honda as well as to Toyota. There are really only the big two now in Canada. We have a government that wants to buy Canadian and support Canadian. I would like to ask the member where we are at when we are bringing up to 50,000 Chinese EV vehicles into Canada that are not going to be produced here. The battery plant has been cancelled. That was $15 billion in investment. Does the member opposite feel that the government's buy Canadian policy and then, by the same hand, getting Chinese vehicles imported here is going to help manufacturers here in Canada?

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise on behalf of the people of Simcoe—Grey, and more specifically those in Clearview Township. The Department of National Defence has purchased one farm of roughly 780 acres, to install an over-the-horizon radar system in a phase one. In order to really complete the system, it is going to need phase two. All the residents are extremely concerned. The department needs another up to 3,000 acres to complete it. Clearview Township and municipalities around it are all opposed to the site's location. We think the department needs to find another spot for it. This is going to change the lives of residents. People are stressed. They do not know if their land is going to be expropriated, and, quite frankly, the public meetings have not been very fruitful. Petitioners are asking to stop the building of the over-the-horizon radar site on the already purchased property, prevent future acquisition of prime farmland in building an over-the-horizon site and register the previously purchased property with the Ontario Farmland Trust to preserve its agricultural status.