Municipal neighbours support opposition to DND radar project

Essa Township and the Town of Innisfil have gone on the record with their support of Clearview’s opposition to a proposed Arctic Over The Horizon Radar (A-OTHR) site proposed for the township.

Essa Mayor Sandie Macdonald thanked Clearview for their leadership in efforts to protect farmland and preserve the agricultural heritage of the region. In a letter to council, Macdonald wrote, “Agricultural lands are a vital resource not only for Clearview but for all of Simcoe County and beyond. These farmlands sustain our local economy, support our rural way of life, and most importantly, put food on everyone’s table. Once these lands are lost, they cannot be replaced – and the long-term impact on food security and the rural character of our region would be irreversible. The Township of Essa stands firmly alongside Clearview in advocating for the preservation of our agricultural lands and in calling for a balanced approach that protects national interests while respecting local communities and food-producing farmland.”

Town of Innisfil clerk, Patty Thoma, wrote, “The Town of Innisfil council supports Clearview Township in recognizing the importance of national defence and supporting Canada’s efforts to keep pace with new and emerging threats such as hypersonic weapons and advanced cruise missiles, but respectfully opposes the use of valuable agricultural land in Clearview Township for the use of a receive site for National Defence’s Arctic Over- The-Horizon (A-OTHR) project.”

The Department of National Defence has purchased a 288-hectare parcel of land in the township where it proposes to set up an array of thousands of antennae to receive A-OTHR signals. Neighbours fear that their land may be expropriated in future phases of the project.