‘It is emotional’: Elgin County farmer frustrated over Hwy. 3 land expropriation

An Elgin County farmer is frustrated after being told that one-third of his family farm on Ron McNeil Line will be expropriated, CTV London's Brent Lale reports

Elgin County farmer Richard Andrews is standing up to the Government of Ontario after learning they are taking one-third of his family farm on Ron McNeil Line.

“We’ve had the notice of application for expropriation, so they will take it,” said Andrews.

The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) will be expropriating 42 acres of the 120-acre farm, which was purchased by his great, great grandfather in 1837.

They are using that land for the twinning of Highway 3.

CTV reached out to the MTO who responded with a statement.

“The highway expansion project will support economic growth in the growing region,” said Tanya Blazina, senior media relations for the MTO. The expansion includes two huge interchanges at Ron McNeil Line (RML) and Highway 3, as well as another at Wellington Rd. and Highway 3.

The project is to make way for improved traffic from Highway 401 near Talbotville, Ont. to the new PowerCo lands in northeast St. Thomas.

The biggest concern is that the new cloverleaf at RML will force his daughter, her husband and two children out of their home.

“It is emotional,” said Andrews, talking about their family home being removed.

“To know that it’s going to be taken and probably just pushed down - we moved this house from Wellington Road and they spent a lot of time fixing it up and put on a new roof. It will be expropriated because they want to move the ditch over and that house will be in the way. So it will be taken along with five and a half acres here and another five and a half over there. Wonderland (Road) will curve through here.”

The MTO replied to concerns of the home removal with a statement which said, “we understand this process can be difficult for all involved and are working directly with the family to discuss their concerns.”

Andews is also in negotiations to replace the nearly 400 trees along RML which he planted with his son.

“We are hoping that we can save the windbreak and just move it to the new border of the road,” said Andrews, “but we haven’t got a definite answer.”

Meanwhile the MTO told CTV it is “reviewing options to determine an effective solution to re-establish the windbreak.”

He did say the MTO has started to speak more frequently with them through email.

Andrews finds himself in an eerily similar situation to his parents.

In 1972, Albert and Marjorie Andrews' farm was right in the middle of the proposed Highway 3 by-pass. His father managed to negotiate a 12-acre land swap which allowed for the expressway to pass through their property.

He’s frustrated with potential arbitration instead of just sitting down face-to-face and dealing in good faith.

“The offer is $16,000 to $19,000 (per acre) but we’d like $35,000 to $40,000 per acre,” said Andrews. “It’s not just the money, it’s the way they do it too. They have sent the application for expropriation, so we know it’s going to get expropriated, but without really trying to make a deal.”

He knows he’s not going to get the same deal that farmers did when they lost their land to the future Volkswagen plant, but he thinks the low offer is insulting.

“I think what we’re really looking for is fair compensation, and as of yet we haven’t got that number,” said Andrews.

Time is running out as the project is now underway.

Logging trees has started at the south end of Wonderland Road.