Halt A‑OTHR construction
Petitioners ask the Government to halt construction of the A‑OTHR receive site in Clearview until environmental and alternatives analyses are completed, publish location documents, and avoid siting defence infrastructure on prime agricultural or Minesing‑connected lands.
Why we would sign this petition
- Protects irreplaceable farmland and food security by stopping conversion of prime agricultural land for non‑agricultural defence use when feasible alternatives may exist.
- Prevents potential harm to the Minesing Wetlands and connected groundwater, drainage and wildlife by requiring environmental analyses before construction.
- Increases transparency and accountability by publishing location documents and reviewing federal/Crown lands for less damaging siting options.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Project delays could impede delivery of defence infrastructure and associated operational timelines needed for national security.
- Suitable alternative sites may be limited, more costly, or technically unsuitable, so insisting on avoidance of agricultural lands could force less effective or expensive solutions.
- Releasing detailed site documents and pausing work may conflict with legitimate confidentiality, security or procurement constraints needed for defence planning.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the Prime Minister The Department of National Defence (DND) purchased approximately 288 hectares (711 acres) of prime agricultural land in Clearview Township for a proposed Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar (A-OTHR) Preliminary Receive Site; The purchased lands overlap and are adjacent to the Minesing Wetlands, a wetland of international importance within the Nottawasaga River watershed that provides flood mitigation, groundwater recharge, water filtration, wildlife habitat, and other critical ecological functions; DND has issued solicitations to landowners regarding potential acquisition of additional lands for two Permanent Receive Sites that could remove thousands of acres of prime farmland from production; Prime agricultural land is a non-renewable national resource, and Ontario continues to lose farmland at an alarming rate; Food security is an important component of Canada's national security and agricultural lands should be protected wherever feasible alternatives exist; Changes to lands connected to sensitive wetlands may affect groundwater systems, agricultural drainage networks, species at risk, wildlife habitat, and downstream communities; and Canadians support a strong national defence while expecting responsible stewardship of agricultural and environmentally sensitive lands. We, the undersigned, Citizens of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to 1. Halt construction activities associated with the proposed A-OTHR Receive infrastructure in Clearview Township until environmental and alternatives analyses are completed; 2. Make public all documents relating to alternative locations, and conduct a transparent review of existing federal, Crown, and defence lands; and 3. Ensure that defence infrastructure is not sited on prime agricultural lands and ecologically connected lands, including those associated with the Minesing Wetlands. 1. Halt construction activities associated with the proposed A-OTHR Receive infrastructure in Clearview Township until environmental and alternatives analyses are completed; 2. Make public all documents relating to alternative locations, and conduct a transparent review of existing federal, Crown, and defence lands; and 3. Ensure that defence infrastructure is not sited on prime agricultural lands and ecologically connected lands, including those associated with the Minesing Wetlands.
Government response
No government response is available yet.