County of Brant Council heard concerns regarding ongoing boundary negotiations of airport lands during the regular Council meeting on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
Brantford Municipal Airport is owned and operated by the City of Brantford, however, the lands currently fall within the boundary of the County of Brant.
A November of 2025 the Airport Board recommendation asked that the City of Brantford request that the Provincial government examine potential restructuring options for the airport lands and surrounding area. It was later approved by City Council and a request was submitted under Section 174 of the Municipal Act to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
The County said it received official communication on March 10 from the Ministry directing that negotiations begin between the two municipalities, establishing a deadline of June 30, 2026, for both municipalities to reach an agreement. On March 24, the County received communication saying that a facilitator has been appointed to support discussions.
During the County’s administration and operations meeting on Tuesday, April 21, Council heard concerns about the matter from Travis Welch, founder of the newly formed Brant Civic Accountability Association (BCAA).
Welch explained that the BCAA is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization that is currently focused on the proposed West Brant Access Road (formerly Oak Park Road Extension) and the Brantford Municipal Airport Lands.
While there, Welch said that the BCAA’s principles centre around transparency, accountability and community, and raised questions around the process surrounding the airport negotiations.
“A straight motion was introduced directly to the airport board, lobbied before any Brant County consultation,” he said. “This motion was voted, and I want to say this, without supporting staff or documented consultation. The motion referenced the potential boundary consultation inclusions of adjacent lands potentially with the County of Brant. The motion did not clearly define the scope of the boundary adjustments and the specific lands affected.”
“The motion was advanced directly to Brantford City Council for consideration and vote. Concerns were raised during the deliberations regarding deviation from standard governing practices, lack of supporting staff analysis and due diligence,” continued Welch. “…Following council approval, the matter was advanced to the province of Ontario. There is no indication of a comprehensive staff report, a documented public consultation process or a formal impact assessment that will coincide with the County of Brant residents and City residents.”
He went on to say that the process occurred in a period leading up to a municipal election.
“Stakeholders have raised concerns that the matter is being accelerated during a ‘lame duck’ period,” said Welch. “This timing may have limited fulsome council debate, restricted public engagement and transparency and reduced opportunity for review by the newly elected council.”
He suggested that the boundary expansion beyond airport lands may overlap with broader infrastructure initiatives, “Including the West Brant Access Road that is currently sitting in a stage three Environmental Assessment Act.”
Welch then said that the BCAA were requesting the County Council consider adopting a formal resolution to pause any further progression on the matter.
“We encourage the Council to consider deferring any substantive decisions until after the municipal election scheduled for October 2026. This would provide newly elected councils with the opportunity to fully engage with residents and stakeholders, and to undertake a comprehensive and transparent review of the financial, environmental and governance considerations associated with each project, including their cumulative impacts,” he said. “The BCAA believes that taking this measured and collaborative approach will reinforce public confidence – which we do not have right now – support informed decision making and ensure meaningful community participation in matters of this significance.”
Allison Newton, Chief Administrative Officer for the County of Brant, later stated that because the process was initiated by the province, it limits the municipality’s ability to pause anything.
“We do have the power to not participate, however, that doesn’t stop the process. In other words, the process is going to continue whether we’re at the table or we aren’t, because it is a provincial process and we’ve been told that quite clearly,” she said. “We have taken the position thus far, that being at the table and participating in the conversations is better than not being at the table. But to be clear, from what we’ve been told by the province, this is proceeding with or without us there.”
Andrea Berestovenko, a resident of Oakhill for the past 20 years, stepped up to the podium to express her concerns around the potential annexation of the airport and surrounding lands.
“We respectfully oppose any proposed annexation of Oakhill by the City of Brantford for the purpose of acquiring lands associated with our local airport and an online petition that I started has achieved over 600 names in a very short time frame,” she said. “Oakhill is so much more than a geographic area, it is a well established, close knit community with a distinct identity, history and way of life. This proposed annexation threatens to disrupt the social fabric, property rights and long-standing stability that residents have built and maintained for generations.”
“We value our rural character, our independence and sense of community. Forced annexation would fundamentally alter this identity without the consent of those that live there. Residents have not been adequately consulted in a transparent or inclusive manner. Decisions of this magnitude must involve genuine community engagement and top down planning,” continued Berestovenko. “Annexation also leads to changes in zoning taxation and land uses that could negatively impact our property values and impose financial burdens on homeowners. The need for additional airport land has not been clearly demonstrated in a way that justifies the disruption and potential long term consequences for Oakhill residents. Also, allowing this annexation sets a concerning precedent for continued encroachment on surrounding rural communities.”
Newton once again spoke, letting the resident know that nothing has been conceded to yet.
“In the negotiations that have happened, there have been varying scenarios put forward, but there’s been nothing concrete,” said the CAO. “We have pushed for further public consultation. It’s been a concern of ours, as it is to many community members, and the City and the facilitator agreed to proceed with public consultation in May. At that time, the hope would be that there would be some notion of what we’re talking about in terms of where the boundary would lie. But right now, there’s been various scenarios put forward, none of which have been conceded to by the County at this time.”
Mayor David Bailey also thanked Berestovenko for her delegation, saying that as the head of Council, he was happy to hear that people still wanted to live in the County and that they like their community. He also expressed support for what the resident was trying to accomplish.
“Just know that you’re preaching to the choir here and good luck on your journey,” he Bailey.
Later, the Council ultimately voted to receive both delegations as information and referred Welch’s request to staff for further consideration.
Welch later returned to Council this past Tuesday to expand on his presentation and provide an update as to what has happened since. Also present at the meeting, as well as across the street at a nearby restaurant, were a large group of supporters.
“Formal governance and ethical concerns have now been raised by multiple parties.
Airport Board member Darryl Casey has resigned and submitted a formal complaint to the Ontario Ombudsman regarding governance, process, and ethical concerns,” said Welch. “The BCAA, through legal counsel, has also submitted a complaint raising serious concerns related to process, transparency, governance, and ethics. While these matters are under independent review, they raise significant questions regarding the integrity of the process to date, and reinforce the need to ensure that no further decisions or actions are advanced until proper municipal process, transparency, and accountability are fully upheld.”
He then went on to once again request that Council pass a formal resolution expressing concern with the appointment of a provincial facilitator in the absence of staff review and public consultation. He also asked that Council request that any further advancement of the matters related to the Brantford Municipal Airport lands, including potential boundary adjustments, be paused until after the October 2026 municipal election.
During the question-and-answer period, Welch referenced some details believed to be from confidential discussions, prompting Bailey to question the source of information, stating that the information certainly didn’t come from anyone around the horseshoe.
Bailey also said that as the one person who sits on the Airport Board who voted no to the initial motion that prompted the airport discussions, he said that as a Council, they needed not be careful not to undermine the process.
“We don’t want any of this to happen. But we also have a process, and the process said to take the decisions away from the mayors, and council too, and give it to CAOs and staff,” he said. “We have a process that they’re in the middle of right now and I think we have to be very, very careful that we don’t undermine everything that they’ve got going because we did make that decision to take the mayors and council out of it all.”
Newton also reiterated the circumstances, saying that the discussions were happening with or without the County. She also mentioned that it will be the City of Brantford that leads the public consultation as it was the corporation that petitioned the province in the first place.
Councillor Lukas Oakley later moved a motion to receive the presentation as information and to refer the request for proper public consultation to the CAO for negotiations.
Jayne Lucente and Jim Stephenson also served as a delegation on behalf of the Oakhill community. They too cited their concerns about the lack of reliable and timely information regarding the airport lands and the potential impact on their community, saying they’re often left to relying on information from Facebook and rumours for their information.
Bailey said that it broke his heart to hear that his residents are relying on rumours for their information, stating he wished he could tell them more about what was happening.
“We take in-camera messaging very seriously. When we’re told we can’t talk about it, we can’t talk about it. We can’t comment, because as I said, the CAOs are doing their thing right now,” he said. “As you can see by how I feel, having the Mayors go at it was not the right answer, because it wouldn’t have worked out at all for anybody so we have stepped back. But we hear you. We’re sorry that you have to even be worried about all of this.”
He also stressed that while the issue in regards to the airport lands and the surrounding area, it’s important to remember that they’re two separate issues.
Following other comments from other Council members, many of whom stated they were sympathetic to everyone’s feelings and the situation at large, Councillor Lukas Oakley reminded those present to show up for public consultation when it does happen.
“When the public consultation is done, make sure you show up to it. Continue reaching out to MPP Will Bouma if you can. As general sort of advice to anyone engaging in these public consultations, because I understand there’s been some skepticism, …engage as if it is in good faith, because you’re putting your best foot forward out there and putting it out on all on the field,” he said. “Make sure that it’s polite and concise, because the worst thing you can do at a public consultation process is go and start being shouty, because then they’re going to dismiss your comments, even if they’re valid. So make sure you’re calm, cool, and collected.”
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
