How many of you were around in the good old early days of the Ontario Landowners Association (OLA) movement? As some of you know, the OLA was founded in December 2005 by delegates from twelve pre-existing landowner groups representing different rural areas of the province. The groups had already been cooperating closely, and for the most part were modeled on the Lanark Landowners Association, which had been conducting demonstrations and other activities since early 2003. A parallel group, the Renfrew Landowners Association, had existed since 2000 and had started the slogan, “This Land is Our Land: Back off Government” that would be adopted by the Lanark Landowners and eventually by the OLA. But it was the Lanark group that first tried to move beyond purely local issues and to recreate itself in different parts of the province.
Not surprisingly, it was the president of the Lanark Landowners, Randy Hillier, along with MP Scott Reid, who led the change that resulted in the formation of the OLA. What followed were demonstrations and rallies on Parliament Hill and at Queens Park and the shut-down of the 401 on one of the coldest days in February 2006. This was the Rural Revolution, the fight to restore the private property rights to rural Ontario. See YouTube video The Rural Revolution: A Fight for Survival 2006 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhziB0A–YI.
Hillier left the OLA in 2007 and was elected as a Progressive Conservative MPP. Jack MacLaren took over as president of the OLA, and when he also was successful in being elected to Queens Park, Tom Black stepped up as president.
Under both MacLaren and Black, the organization grew as did awareness that we do have property rights and we can fight back and win. MacLaren and Black traveled across Ontario to meetings and often to sit in someone’s kitchen to listen to how the government was interfering with their life and ability to make a living. Often, they were able to help. Also during this time, Elizabeth Marshall, serving as OLA Director of Research, wrote about the law and private property with special attention on the strength and value of Crown Land Patents. Much of her reports are available for free on the OLA website. https://ontariolandowners.ca/product-category/reports/
So where are we now? Jeff Bogaerts, a former president of the Lanark Landowners is now leading the OLA. Under Jeff’s leadership, there has been more activity in the courts, with the OLA being asked to participate as intervenors in property rights cases, including the Annapolis Group Inc. v. Halifax Regional Municipality. The OLA was granted leave to intervene in this major appeal originating from Nova Scotia, advocating for clearer rules on constructive taking and landowner compensation when municipal actions restrict property use.
So, what are the big issues for the OLA these days?
- The Alto High-Speed Rail project threatens the rights of property owners in Quebec and Ontario. In April 2026, at their AGM, one of the topics discussed was the Alto project. Rebel News was there and captured the associated issues. See https://www.rebelnews.com/ontario_landowners_push_back_against_high_speed_rail_and_property_rights_threats Local chapters like the Navan Landowners and the Carleton Landowners are keeping members aware of developments and distributing No Alto signs. The federal government has promised that expropriation of land will begin as early as this fall using the new expropriation laws. The Carleton Landowners also has a running blog on the OLA website Forum which documents major milestones and events on the Alto project https://ontariolandowners.ca/community/land-use-zoning/high-speed-rail-system-and-new-expropriation-act/paged/4/#post-114 The blog currently has over 8500 visitors.
- Land acknowledgements: There has been quite a bit of discussion lately about land acknowledgements and whether they should be continued. One such discussion took place in Whitewater Region at a regular council meeting on December 3, 2025. At this meeting, Donna Burns did a presentation to Council in which she respectfully asks that Council stop uttering the land acknowledgement. Burns further explained that the land in question is subject to a treaty. Burns’ presentation is introduced by the mayor at 11:34. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOLQPYt_5JY&t=2440s. This is but one of the many meetings at which Donna has spoken. We also note that one of our renewed county groups, Prince Edward Hastings Northumberland Landowners, has held two public meetings where land acknowledgements and UNDRIP (UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples) have been discussed.
- One of the most important activities that Landowners do is attend municipal meetings. Over the years, the OLA has uncovered and documented an abundance of municipal law that is sometimes ignored, not known, or misunderstood by municipal councillors and staff. One such instance is the presentation made to the Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh Township Working Group where Bob Weimeir and Stefanos Karatopis raised important conflicts regarding a bylaw the township was developing. See their presentation here https://ontariolandowners.ca/presentation-to-acw-township-working-group-concerning-property-standards-bylaw-by-stefanos-karatopis/.
These are but three instances that demonstrate how the OLA is continuing to work to protect property rights. And the OLA continues to share what they have learned at meetings and through the OLA ENews, our monthly newsletter. And we are all volunteers!
Why not Join Us today and be part of the movement. https://ontariolandowners.ca/membership-join/ to join electronically or send a cheque payable to the Ontario Landowners Association to OLA, PO Box 95, Woodlawn, ON K0A 3M0. Memberships are $60 per year.