Published Jun 12, 2026  •  Last updated 1 day ago  •  3 minute read

Neighbours in the west end of Brantford, Len Blank, left, and Bill Cox, compared where their properties are on a map of where the city proposes to annex Brant County lands in exchange for money. Blank and Cox disagreed on whether the plan is a good or bad one. Photo by Susan Gamble /Susan Gamble/The Expositor

There was no lack of strong opinions Thursday as several hundred people turned out to a municipal open house about the Brantford Airport, expressing themselves both in favour and against the plan.

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Held at the Walter Gretzky Municipal Golf Course, as the airport community centre was unavailable, the open house attracted more than 225 people during afternoon and evening sessions that were monitored by security guards and police officers.

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The proposed annexation of county lands by the city would involve the Brantford Municipal Airport and adjacent farm lands totalling 1,317 acres, leaving most of the Oak Hill settlement area in the county. A $9.7-million payment to the county would compensate for lost taxes and legal fees.

“The whole thing’s come on us so quick, so we came to see what’s happening,” said Bill Cox, who said he’s against the idea.

His near neighbour, Len Blank, said “so far” he’s for it.

But both men reflected the opinions of many at the open house: why is there suddenly a race to get this done?

“What’s the rush?” asked Jo-Anne Woodley.

“We’re soon going to have two new councils so why not let them discuss it? We had no idea about this and weren’t given any notification of any kind of plan so it seems very underhanded and sneaky.”

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Brant Coun. Brian Coleman was one of many sitting politicians and would-be politicians circulating at the open house.

Talking to constituents, Coleman said he was hearing more positive comments than people against the plan but he also said folks found the map explaining the potential annexation to be confusing.

Coleman said he thought the current county and city councils should make the decision on the plan because new councils could take years to get up to speed and understand all the issues involved.

Coleman’s Ward 5 co-councillor, Ella Haley, was on the opposite side. Haley said a quick decision would disadvantage busy farmers and called for a longer consultation period.

“Why do they need so much of this prime farm land for an airport?” Haley asked, handing out flyers that said “Speak up! Stop the Annexation”.

One woman talking with Haley pointed out that if the old councils make a quick decision on the plan, most will be able to walk away without dealing with any fallout.

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“It smacks of trying to leave a legacy,” said another county resident.

City spokesperson Maria Visocchi said worries about what will happen to farm land in the plan should be minimal.

“The farms in the transfer lands have been designated as official farm land in the county’s official plan and the city can’t do anything about that, so the land use would remain unless or until a rezoning application comes in and that takes years and a lot more public consultation.

“People assume development would happen right away and that’s not the way the process works.”

Rosemary Prohaska, who lives on nearby Highway 53, left the open house disappointed.

“I hoped to hear presentations and have the opportunity to ask questions but what we got were all these city staff and a variety of answers. I’m still not clear what the ultimate plan is.”

Prohaska said she fears Colborne Street West will see an explosion of housing, round-abouts, strip malls, and traffic similar to what has built up on Rest Acres Road.

“What’s the hurry? How did this happen? We really need to pay attention.”

The consultation period, which just began on May 27, runs to June 26 and then will include statutory public hearings during the week of July 6, followed by council decisions.

SGamble@postmedia.com

@EXPSGamble

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