Some things are necessary when it comes to growth and expansion but isn't there something at least a little wrong with taking away the farm of an 85 year old - the only life and livelihood he has ever known?
Frank Myers is an Ontario area farmer. He is 85 years old and his land has been in the family since before confederation. Myers has been battling the federal government for the past seven years to keep his land that the government announced it was expropriating to expand a military base in the area. In spite of a host of supporters stepping up and forming rallies to back the aging farmer, the government is forging ahead with plans to demolish Myer's buildings and proceed with federal plans.
"This is the only thing Frank has ever known, and if he loses his reason for getting up in the morning, he'll die," says one supporter and the founder of a Facebook support network that has grown to over 18,000 members.
Reportedly in November, Myers begrudgingly inked a deal with the feds. "I didn't want to sell," he says. "I constantly told them and told them. They told me if I didn't sign now, I wouldn't get half the money if I went and hired a judge... I want them out of here, I need some rest, I've got to get some peace. It's going to kill me."
Now if that's not bullying in it's finest form, then I'm not sure what is. And this is coming from our own federal government. Shameful.
Up until now, Myers still farmed the land. He grew corn, beans, peas, hay, oats and barley on the property that was donated to his family in 1798 by King George III. The family has resided there ever since.
"Farmlands, and people's homes, are special," says one federal politician involved in the action. "But in the end, you have to look at the greater good... Yes there will be a hole in his heart now... but in the end... every single council member... is 100 per cent behind this expropriation."
Well isn't that nice. Old Frank will get over it, in whatever little time he has left on this earth.
"It's not just Frank," says one Myers supporter. "It's you, it's me, it's anyone in Canada. If this happens to Frank, what's it to prevent it from happening to us?"
Indeed. With all of the land options out there, do we really need to bully a senior in the name of advancement?
