Leave the Experimental Farms in Prince Edward Island alone.

The Upton Farm in Charlottetown encompassed 100.2000 ha or 247 acres. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz refused to sell or give away the Ravenwood Farm in Charlottetown. The province of PEI has the least amount of federal land in Canada and now the feds want to use that land for housing:

House of Commons Ottawa December 14, 1970: MP Andre-Gilles Fortin (Ralliement Creditiste) "What is the area of land owned by the federal government in each province?"

Hon. Arthur Laing (Minister of Public Works) Liberal: "The area of land owned by the federal government as recorded in the Central Inventory of Federal Properties by province is"

• Prince Edward Island  1,353 acres
• Newfoundland           96,041 acres
• Nova Scotia               22,514 acres
• New Brunswick       318,532 acres
• Quebec                     280,485 acres
• Ontario                     268,283 acres
• Manitoba                   51,707 acres
• Saskatchewan           77,445 acres
• Alberta                    101,751 acres
• British Columbia    164,158 acres
• Yukon Territories     21,125 acres
• Northwest Territories90,193 acres     (Includes only property that is being utilized by federal departments and agencies.) 

"Surplus" Agriculture Canada Experimental Farms

1.  Gamelin Farm including the Animal Virus Laboratory, 100 rue Gamelin. The land was transferred to the National Capital Commission.

2.  Jean-Charles Chapais Experimental Farm, Levis, Quebec. Jean-Charles Chapais was Canada's first Minister of Agriculture.

3.  Delhi Research Farm, Ontario.

4.  Kapuskasing Research Farm, Ontario.

5. Upton Experimental Farm, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

6.  Ravenwood Experimental Farm - Minister of Agriculture Gerry Ritz refused to decommission Ravenwood.

7.  Fort Vermillion Experimental Farm, Alberta.

8.  Vegreville Research Farm near Edmonton.

9.  Cereal Research Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

10. Smithfield Experimental Farm, City of Quinte West Ontario.

11. Greenbelt Research Farm, Ottawa Ontario, "As of March 31, 1998, the Greenbelt Research Farm, which covers 1,200 ha or 2,965 acres bordered by Hunt Club Road, Woodroffe Avenue, Fallowfield Road and Greenbank Road, ceased to function as an Agriculture and Agri-Food Research Centre. This was announced in the 1995 budget." The National Capital Commission paid $1 dollar for the 2,965 acres of land. House of Commons Ottawa May 25, 2010: MP Marcel Proulx (Hull-Aylmer, Liberal) "The Liberal members from the National Capital Region, the member for Ottawa-Vanier, the member for Ottawa South and I as members of Parliament, have good reason to call for enhanced protection of the greenbelt. There are, as a matter of fact, no major regulations protecting this area. Together the City of Ottawa and the NCC could do what they like with it. We believe this green space must be protected from developers."

12. Senator Herve J. Michaud Research Farm, Bouctouche, New Brunswick. MP Dominic LeBlanc was opposed to the closure and sale of the property.

13. Frelighsburg Experimental Farm was closed in 2012 and reopened by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in  2016. The property is 90 km south-east of Montreal.

14. Vineland Research Farm, Lincoln, Region of Niagara, Ontario.

15. Kamloops Research Farm, British Columbia. Closed in May of 2013.

16. L'Assomption Research Farm, Quebec. L'Assomption is a off-island suburb of Montreal.

17. La Pocatiere Research Farm, Quebec. 

18. Sheffield Research Farm, Upper Canard, Nova Scotia.

A song on YouTube called "Help Save Old Upton Farm"

Agriculture Canada is sacrificing more Farm land.

 

A 1974 front page article in the Ottawa Journal. 

The National Capital Commission wanted 700 acres of the Experimental Farm in 1974 because of a housing shortage. Agriculture Canada minister Eugene Whelan told the NCC that the land was untouchable and would be sold "over my dead body."  

The word compromise means "To make a deal between two parties whereby each party gives up part of their demand." Agriculture Canada told City of Ottawa politicians that compromises will be made regarding property on the Farm. (From: "A great central park. Tower debate turns to the future of the experimental farm" by Arthur White-Crummy, CBC News, November 29, 2023.)

Federal politicians who tried to preserve the Farm in its entirety.  Reposting.

Prime Ministers of Canada Mackenzie King, Louis St-Laurent, John Diefenbaker, Pierre Trudeau and Brian Mulroney.

Agriculture Ministers Sidney Fisher, James Gardiner, Douglas Harkness, Eugene Whelan, Bud Olson, John Wise and Gerry Ritz.

Ministers of Public Works Erik Nielsen, Howard Green, 

Senators

• Senator Anne Cools - "The public fears that many other parklands, like the Experimental Farm and the Arboretum are on the National Capital Commission's list for sale."
• Senator Mike Duffy Debates in the Senate of Canada December 12, 2019 Mr. Duffy: "Congratulations Senator Joyal on your two pieces of legislation...Do you think it would be a good idea to expand your bill, or would it require another piece of legislation, to preserve the unique nature of the capital, so that the Greenbelt will be protected and that places like the Experimental Farm, which is in the middle of the city of Ottawa will also be protected. Because of this pressure for urban development we have developers looking at this land and saying "Hey, there's millions of dollars to be made here".

Members of Parliament

•  Speaker of the House Lloyd Francis. House of Commons Ottawa October 10, 1974: SPEECH FROM THE THRONE-CONTINUATION OF DEBATE - Mr. Francis (Ottawa West, Liberal) "...I do not think that (Mr. Fullerton) was right when he proposed that part of the Experimental Farm should be used for housing. Despite the fact that there is a serious housing shortage in this area I do not think that my constituents would choose to sacrifice an open space which is such a precious thing for the community."

Some Hon. Members: "Hear, hear!"

• MP Marlene Catterall
• MP Elizabeth May   
• MP Monique Pauze
• Minister of National Defence Barnett Danson
• MP George McIlraith 
• MP David Daubney
• MP Walter Baker House of Commons Ottawa November 4, 1974 Mr. Baker (Grenville-Carleton) Deputy House Leader of the Official Opposition; Progressive Conservative Party House Leader "...There really is no open or green space available for those who live in high-rise housing, in condominiums or densely populated areas. The green and open space which normally is provided by one's backyard or by the neighbourhood park, must be provided in those urban areas by green belt areas such as the Experimental Farm."