Is London city council getting overconfident?

Politicians fiercely debated a proposal to apply for the 2020 International Plowing Match on Monday.

That comes weeks after a heated discussion over whether London should bid for tech giant Amazon’s second headquarters. Around the same time, council backed a pitch for the 2019 Juno Awards.

Some, including Mayor Matt Brown, said elected officials are looking for opportunities that benefit Londoners , but others said it’s a waste of time.

At the heart of Monday’s debate was Coun. Bill Armstrong’s proposal to try to bring the International Plowing Match to London and Middlesex County, to lands near Crumlin Sideroad, east of Veterans Memorial Parkway.

Others weren’t convinced.

“I would love if the Olympics would come to London, Ont., but I just don’t think we can do it and I don’t think it makes sense for London,” Coun. Mo Salih told the strategic priorities and policy committee.

Others argued the city doesn’t do enough to celebrate its rural roots and residents.

“It’s an important part of London, and I think this is an opportunity to showcase it,” Coun. Maureen Cassidy said.

“We are constantly telling investors in the agrifood business . . . ‘We’re smack dab in the middle of some of the best agriculture land in the country.’ ”

Politicians voted 12-3 to move ahead with an expression of interest for the International Plowing Match and asked staff to report back on the resources required.

Coun. Jared Zaifman slammed the committee for spending 90 minutes circling the issue.

“It’s frustrating to see us talk and talk and talk about . . . nothing,” he said.

Coun. Jesse Helmer said London shouldn’t steal the economic benefits from smaller communities. The event is estimated to bring close to $30 million to a host community.

“Whenever we host is going to be a year that a rural municipality doesn’t,” he said. “We shouldn’t be throwing our weight around.”

The city was host to the International Plowing Match once before, in 1928.

Questions swirled around what it would take, logistically and financially, for London to host in 2020. At the top of the list is 405 hectares of agricultural land. Host communities also are asked to help with tasks such as snow fencing around the fields, organizers said.

Armstrong wants council to back the bid by covering a $100,000 fee. Those funds are paid out later and are sometimes returned, in whole or in part, to the hosts.

Cathy Lasby, executive director of the Ontario Plowmen’s Association — the organization that runs the International Plowing Match — said the budget runs between $2.5 million and $3 million, but noted the financial costs are the responsibility of the association and other partners.

Lasby said bringing the plowing match to an urban centre is a unique opportunity to share agriculture with local residents.

“As farmers, we want to give our message to city people,” she said.

mstacey@postmedia.com

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