Activist for rural landowners stepping down

The president of the Ontario Landowners Association, who fought for rural property rights, is leaving the post.

Randy Hillier helped launch the group in Lanark, southwest of Ottawa, four years ago and has been a vocal proponent of rural issues.

He has led convoys of tractors along highways and supported an Ottawa-area family of farm workers from Belgium that was being deported.

The group's signs, whichread "This is our Land Back off Government," dot properties in the Ottawa area.

Hillier's group has fought against government regulations to protect wetlands and limit deer hunting on privately owned land.

The association lent its support to farmers when they drove inthree separate convoys to a protest at the Ontario legislature two years ago in a campaign to win more government aid.

But the group doesn't have support from more moderate organizations such as the Ontario Federation of Agriculture.

In one of his more controversial moves, Hillier e-mailed a photo of a dead deer to Ontario's environment minister in 2005. At the time, he said he was simply trying to get some government action on nuisance deer in Lanark County.

Hillier said the landowners association is evolving, and it's time for other leaders in the group to take over.

He plans to rest and spend time with his family, he said,but will also look into career opportunities in media, business and politics.