The Conservation Review Board of Ontario hearing into the heritage designation of the historic Sir Frederick Banting Homestead has only just begun and already controversy has arisen.

Monday morning, the hearings began at the New Tecumseth  municipal offices with relatives of Sir Frederick Banting requesting status at the proceedings, which could last as long as three days.

If granted status, the relatives of the one-time owner of the Banting Homestead, Edward Banting, would have been allowed to call and question witnesses at the hearing. The board, however, denied the family status at the proceedings, explaining that since family members would be giving testimony for the Town of New Tecumseth, it would result in overlapping evidence.

At issue is the the heritage designation of the 100-acre farm and buildings where Banting, the co-dicoverer of insulin, and 1923 Noble Prize for Medicine winner, was born and raised.

The property was left to the Ontario Historical Society by its last owner, Edward Banting, following his death in 1998. Over the years, however, the house and outbuildings have fallen into disrepair. The octagonal drive shed on the property is almost completely falling down, and tarps are being used to protect the porch of the home from the elements.

The Town of New Tecumseth made application to the Conservation Review Board for historical designation to protect the site. The town then entered into talks with the OHS to try and work out a solution that would both protect the homestead and some or all of the property, or possibly sell the land to the town. The Ontario Historical Society backed away from the talks with an offer on the table from the town for $1 million. The town hoped to maintain 30 or so acres and sell the remaining 70 to an adjacent developer to recoup the $1 million.

A short while later, the OHS sold it to a developer, Solmar Homes, for more than $2 million. Talks between Solmar and the town about transferring some of the land and the buildings, recently broke down.

The OHS has maintained that since the house had been rebuilt since Banting lived there, it bears little historical significance. They point to a home in London, ON, where he resided during the actual discovery of insulin as being much more significant historically. That house has already been designated as a National Historic Site.

While the hearings were just getting underway, Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson was standing out front of the Banting Homestead next to the giant cement cairn honouring the late doctor, to launch his campaign for re-election.

"This is the birthplace of Sir Frederick Banting, a national hero," said Wilson in the shade of the large trees at the front of the property today (Monday). He added that sit idly by while the developer threatens it is  disgraceful.

Wilson put forth a Private Members Bill, Bill 20 - The Frederick Banting Homestead Preservaton Act, to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 2005, urging the government to protect the site.  Although the Bill passed second reading Nov. 17, 2005 the McGuinty government has never called it for third reading and it remains stalled on the floor of the house.

The Act would protect the homestead and forbid alteration or demolition of any of the farm buildings except for repairs and renovations or for use as an educational and interpretive centre.  It also designates the entire 100-acre farm as a not-for-profit enterprise restricted to agricultural purposes and allows the property to be used as a camp for diabetic children.

Herald reporter Kurtis Elsner is at the hearings and will be filing reports daily. Also check the Wednesday edition of The Alliston Herald for an update.