The following letter was sent to representatives from the City of Brantford, County of Brant, the Minister of Municipal Affairs as well as the Brant Beacon. Here is the letter, written by Scott Graham, in its entirety.
To Whom It May Concern,
Please accept this letter as my formal objection to the proposed annexation of approximately 1,317 acres of County of Brant land, specifically encompassing the Brantford Municipal Airport, by the City of Brantford, as well as any subsequent infrastructure developments, including the West Brant Access Route.
I am writing this not only as a deeply concerned resident of the Oakhill community but as someone who has dedicated their entire professional life to the concepts of ethical leadership, accountability, and the eradication of systemic bullying.
For thirty-three years, I have taught leadership skills to youth across Canada and internationally. I am a TED speaker, a bestselling author of six books on leadership and youth empowerment, and have been formally recognized by the Governor General of Canada for my service with the Meritorious Service Medal, the highest honour for a civilian. Most recently, I was acknowledged and commended by Prime Minister Mark Carney for my work across Canada, the United Kingdom, and Europe in equipping children with leadership attributes and anti-bullying skills.
It is precisely through the lens of leadership and anti-bullying that I view the current municipal re-structuring process. True leadership requires transparency, empathy, and a commitment to protecting the vulnerable. Instead, the rushed, provincially facilitated negotiation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has left local citizens feeling utterly disregarded. Many residents in Oakhill and the surrounding county communities feel that they are being structurally bullied by an aggressive municipal expansion that overrides their democratic input.
Forcing rural homeowners into city boundary lines without robust, transparent public consultation is an exercise in raw institutional power, not collaborative leadership. Beyond the direct impact on local residents, this process represents a profound failure of ethical leadership regarding our relationship with neighboring Indigenous communities. I object to this annexation and the broader infrastructure plans on the following specific grounds:
Profound Disrespect for Indigenous Concerns, Values, and Sacred Grounds:
The proposed land transfers and infrastructure expansions directly intersect with areas of immense cultural and historical significance to the local Indigenous community. Proceeding with plans that threaten to disrupt a known or suspected burial ground is deeply disrespectful and violating. To push forward without authentic, meaningful consultation, and without completely accounting for Indigenous values, violates the core tenets of truth and reconciliation. A project built on the desecration of sacred ancestry is entirely unacceptable.
The West Brant Access Route Backdoor:
There is deep, justified concern that this 1,317-acre land transfer is a tactical maneuver to secure the land corridors necessary for the heavily contested West Brant Access Route (historically the Oak Park Road Extension/BSAR). This project has faced fierce, sustained resistance from county residents, city residents, and Six Nations community members for years precisely because of its severe environmental, cultural, and treaty-right implications. Using an airport annexation to advance a stalled highway project lacks political and moral integrity.
Destruction of the Oakhill Neighbourhood and Community Identity:
Oakhill is defined by its quiet, rural character. Residents intentionally invested in this area for its larger lots, lack of urbanized infrastructure (such as sidewalks), and reliance on well and septic systems. Forcing urbanization and city-level property tax rates onto these households alters the very lifestyle they have financially and emotionally committed to.
Severe Environmental Degradation:
The lands surrounding the airport and the projected corridors for the West Brant Access Route contain vital agricultural acreage and delicate ecosystems. Expanding airport infrastructure and constructing a major transportation corridor will result in the loss of prime agricultural soil, disrupt local watersheds, and destroy natural habitats.
Irreparable Impact on Property Values and Noise Pollution:
Transitioning the airport to city control with the explicit intent of expanding runways to invite commercial and cargo traffic will introduce severe noise pollution directly over residential zones. This, coupled with the potential construction of a heavy-traffic access route, will systematically erode property values for families who paid a premium for a peaceful environment. A true leader listens to the community and honours the sacred heritage of the land before drawing lines on a map. I urge both councils and the provincial facilitator to halt this annexation process, reject the current MOU, and initiate an open, transparent, and authentic public consultation process that genuinely respects Indigenous rights, environmental boundaries, and the well-being of local residents.
Thank you for your time and serious consideration of this matter.
Sincerely,
Scott Graham, M.S.M.
Brantford, Ontario
