KEEPING YOU INFORMED

kEEPING YOU INFORMED By Maurice Brenner Deputy Mayor/Regional Councillor Ward 1 Pickering Many thought it was a joke when Frenchman’s Bay and abutting properties was listed for sale for $60 million dollars by the Pickering Harbour Company (PHC). Many asked, how can this be? And many were very vocal that Pickering needs to purchase it to stop development. In this weeks column I will share with you an in depth look at how we got to this point, and why I think there is little to NO risk that the Bay will end up as a floating development. In the early1800s Frenchman’s Bay was a busy port of Trade referred to as the Liverpool Port. During the reign of Queen Victoria, a Charter was granted to the Pickering Harbour Company giving them ownership of the Bay and lands along Lake Ontario on condition that they ensured the safe passage of vessels between Lake Ontario and into the Bay. It was this Charter that put into Private Ownership Pickering’s Jewel the Frenchman’s Bay. In the 1980s the then Town of Pickering attempted a Court challenge of the ownership which failed. For decades that followed, Pickering continued to work with the PHC as we began our journey to create the Frenchman’s Bay Waterfront Masterplan on the East and West Sides of the spit along with the nautical village. Flash forward to today, the PHC attempted to develop their lands into massive Highrise Towers, something neither the residents nor the City of Pickering and Council were prepared to support. The matter was referred to the Ontario Land Tribunal where it subsequently was later withdrawn by PHC. In preparing its case the City of Pickering noted that (a) a majority of PHC is situated with-in the Pickering Nuclear freeze zone which prevents the lands from being developed for any other use other than its current Marine use something that is not anticipated to change for at least another 30-50 years until the Nuclear plant is no longer operational and all radioactive materials no longer exist as well as environmental concerns and a lack of compatibility with Community character. . Add to that the Charter granted by the Crown is very specific and I believe is of National interest given its history. While Pickering Council had every desire to purchase this asset and place it in Public ownership, our offers were rejected as we were not prepared to offer what the PHC listed it for, which would have bankrupt the taxpayers. Let me be perfectly clear, that while unable to purchase the Bay, I am confident that my Council colleagues are not prepared to allow our Jewel to be destroyed regardless of who may own it. Lets continue to work together to ensure Frenchman’s Bay can be enjoyed for future generations.