MP rails against $10M bill to protect riverfront land
Masse says port authority aims to ‘double dip’ on local taxpayers
Taxpayers should not be footing the bill for the last piece of untouched riverfront land in Windsor to be environmentally protected, local MP Brian Masse said during a debate in the House of Commons.
“We shouldn’t be spending $10 million to pay for land we already own as taxpayers,” Masse said.
The Windsor Port Authority has asked for $10 million in exchange for preserving a pristine 36-acre property under its control known as Ojibway Shores located on the city’s far west end.
Masse (NDP — Windsor-West) spoke about Ojibway Shores in Ottawa during a debate Monday on Bill C-344 — legislation that would make it mandatory to include community benefits on any major infrastructure project in Canada.
The planned Gordie Howe International Bridge project includes community benefits, with a committee already formed to discuss options that would largely benefit the community of Sandwich — close to where the new border crossing will be located.
The port authority recently approached Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority to see if Ojibway Shores could be included in the Howe bridge project in exchange for funds to cover “lost business” it would receive as a marine terminal.
The new bridge’s private-sector operator will lease the lands under the plan and make it available as a public park.
Port authority CEO David Cree said he was prepared to work with the city and the Essex Region Conservation Authority on the enhancement and maintenance of Ojibway Shores.
He guessed the amount to secure a deal would be in the $10-million range over 30 years.
When the property was acquired in a land swap 25 years ago with the city “everyone expected it to be developed,” said Cree on Tuesday.
“Nobody had any issues with that,” he said. “We have spent money trying to attract business to that site and bring jobs.
“Our mandate is port development, not park development.”
But having said that, Cree believes the port authority has worked hard to find a solution to preserve the property.
“We’re not trying to gouge anyone, just recoup the base minimum we would receive if it was developed,” he said. “We certainly would make a lot more money from a lucrative terminal.”
But Masse believes any Howe bridge community benefit funds spent on Ojibway Shores will take away from other money that could benefit seniors, youth or the environment within Sandwich or the city.
He noted the port authority is simply a “steward” for ports in Canada and any land it owns is legally in control of the federal government. In turn, it also belongs to taxpayers.
“Why should people pay for something already owned,” Masse said. “(The port authority) could say it’s valued for $100 million, but still the public owns it.”
The local MP believes the deed for the property can legally be turned over by Transport Canada — which oversees ports — to the federal environment ministry and a showpiece park could be created next to the Howe bridge.
“(The property) needs to be handed over,” he said. “It’s public and Crown land. The (federal transport) minister, through a two-step process, can pass it over to the Ministry of Environment.”
There are several programs available within that ministry to provide assistance for the preservation and enhancement of Ojibway Shores, Masse said.
“It would be win-win,” he said. “But don’t double dip on taxpayers for something they already own.
“We certainly could use that $10 million for anti-poverty or community health initiatives. There is only one shot here for Sandwich (on community benefits), so we better do it right.”