OTTAWA—Frank Meyers, 85, can trace the family’s ownership of his Trenton-area farm across generations and centuries. But in the end, he was no match for Canada’s elite soldiers.

The federal government expropriated almost 100 hectares (about 250 acres) of Meyers’ farmland last year to expand the existing military base at CFB Trenton and develop a new training base for Joint Task Force 2, the military’s counter-terrorism unit.

Meyers had until Monday to vacate the property.

“It’s a complete crime,” Meyers told the Star. “There’s no way I’m going to be off the property.”

“They might be here with the police to escort me off and lock me up for all I know.”

Though his house is not threatened — it’s on a separate, nearby piece of land — Meyers said the loss of this farm property will take away his and his son’s livelihood.

“I can’t understand the government doing this, burying prime farmland,” Meyers said.

Meyers says he has been told the defence department has plans for an ammunition arsenal on his former land.

Though he doesn’t want move, Meyers has been getting ready for the inevitable. He got rid of his cattle last week. His turkeys will be the next to go. But he remains resentful that the military didn’t use land it already owned at other existing facilities like nearby Mountain View or Petawawa.

Capt. Christopher Daniel, a spokesperson for 8 Wing at CFB Trenton, said the base will begin to secure the property and put up defence department signs on Tuesday.

He noted that the defence department has agreed with several of Meyers’ requests to keep access to the property, starting last year when he was allowed to harvest his crops. Meyers will be allowed to harvest this year’s crop and remove whatever equipment is left behind.

Daniel said the department has been “sensitive” to Meyers’ concerns.

“We gradually established a presence in the expropriated land while remaining respectful and non-confrontational with Mr. Meyers,” he said.

“We’ve been trying to accommodate him but now there are certain works that need to be done on the land. It cannot be delayed anymore.

“We have provided him with ample time to have the opportunity to take his equipment, livestock and crops before we secured the place,” he said.

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Daniel added that Meyers has received an offer of compensation for the property.

The government said that JTF2 has been adding to its ranks and had outgrown its current base in Dwyer Hill, just outside of Ottawa.