Media Room
It's our harbour: Oshawa wants it back and David Crombie agrees!
David Crombie's Report Supports Oshawa's Harbour Vision
Media Release: David Crombie's Report
Port lands should go to Oshawa: Crombie
City 'thrilled' with report on harbour
Sep 02, 2008 - 05:52 PM
Oshawa This Week
By Jillian Follert
OSHAWA -- Six months after it was completed -- and three days before a federal election call is expected -- Transport Canada has released the highly anticipated Crombie Report.
The report -- written by former Toronto Mayor David Crombie in the hopes of ending decades of dispute over the future of Oshawa's port -- says ownership of the port and surrounding lands should be vested to the City.
You can read the rest of the article here: http://newsdurhamregion.com/article/107538
Government of Canada releases report on the future of the Port of Oshawa
WEB: http://www.tc.gc.ca/programs/ports/crombie.htm
OTTAWA, Sept. 2 /CNW Telbec/ - The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today announced the release of a report prepared by the Honourable David Crombie, P.C., O.C., with recommendations on the future of the Port of Oshawa. "I would like to thank Mr. Crombie for his work on this report, and his insights," said Minister Cannon. "The Government of Canada agrees with Mr. Crombie's finding that a robust mixed-use harbour is critical to Oshawa and the Region of Durham, as well as to Ontario and Canada."
The report was commissioned by Transport Canada in 2007 to help determine future use of port lands belonging to the Crown. Mr. Crombie consulted with interested stakeholders in the development of the report. It's recommendations address future use and ownership of the port lands and neighbouring areas, and propose a new governance structure for their future management. "Our government recognizes the significant economic challenges facing the Canadian economy today and these challenges are clearly evident in Oshawa and Durham Region," said the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance and Minister responsible for the Greater Toronto Area. "We will work with the city, the region, and the port to ensure the future success of this great natural resource and economic engine."
Transport Canada officials are currently considering all options for a new governance structure at the port. The department is also continuing the environmental assessment of the lands originally acquired from the city in the 1960s, as a step towards reaching a mutually agreeable solution on the future of the port and the return of all caveated lands. That is why the federal government will work with the city to remediate caveated lands to a level of environmental restoration required for transfer, as part of a negotiated solution for the city and the port. Consideration will also be given to the marina that historically straddles both the caveated and crown lands.
"Our government is pleased to deliver for the people of Oshawa. Our community deserves a clean, green, vibrant mixed-use waterfront and I am pleased that today, this is now becoming a reality," said Dr. Colin Carrie, Member of Parliament for Oshawa and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry. The Oshawa Harbour Commission currently manages the port and administers some of the port's Crown land. It is the only remaining Harbour Commission in Canada. Under the National Marine Policy approved in 1995, Transport Canada has the authority to recommend Canada Port Authority status, or, with the agreement of all local interests, to divest ports to new owners under the Port Divestiture Program.
The report is available at www.tc.gc.ca/programs/ports/crombie.htm. For further information: Catherine Loubier, Director of Communications, Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, 613)991-0700; Media Relations, Transport Canada, (613) 993-0055; Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at www.tc.gc.ca/e-news and keep up to date on the latest from Transport Canada. This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities.
Mayor expects Crombie Report by Oct. 18
Aug 26, 2008 - 12:01 PM
Oshawa This Week
By Jillian Follert
OSHAWA -- Transport Canada has responded to a formal request from Mayor John Gray to cough up the elusive Crombie Report -- and the correspondence contains both good news and bad.
An Aug. 21 letter from Transport Canada's access to information and privacy division says the report won't be released to the mayor's office at this time, citing section 26 of the Access to Information Act.
You can read the rest of this article here: http://newsdurhamregion.com/article/107068
Mayor deserves credit for pushing for Crombie Report
Jul 24, 2008 - 04:30 AM
Oshawa This Week
You have to give Oshawa Mayor John Gray points for creativity and determination.
Mayor Gray, frustrated with the months-long wait for the Crombie Report on the Oshawa waterfront, has filed a Freedom of Information (FOI) request with Transport Canada in the hope of finally getting the report from Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon.
You can read the rest of this article here: http://newsdurhamregion.com/article/103534
Mayor files FOI request to get Crombie report
Jul 21, 2008 - 05:08 PM
Oshawa This Week
By Jillian Follert
OSHAWA -- Typically, it's reporters and members of the public who file Freedom of Information (FOI) requests as a way of prying information out of government agencies.
Now Mayor John Gray is trying his hand at it.
On Monday, the mayor filed an FOI with Transport Canada in the hope of extracting a copy of the Crombie Report from Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon.
"We've been led down the garden path for so long now, we need a way to shake things up," the mayor said, noting that this is the first FOI he has ever filed. "It's unorthodox for a mayor to file one, but we had to find an alternative method to deal with this and it's one of the tools in our arsenal." The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act ensures the public can access information controlled by institutions -- like municipalities and higher level governments -- while at the same time shielding information that must legally be kept private.
You can read the rest of this article here: http://newsdurhamregion.com/article/103384
We need to push for cleaner, greener harbour
May 02, 2008 - 01:37 PM
Oshawa This Week
To the editor:
So the City won't be spending another $385,000 on a campaign to prod the federal government into action on our waterfront.
Or more accurately, the City won't be spending another $385,000 on mobilizing residents to prod the federal government into action. So maybe it's time that we, the residents, woke up to the fact that we are a waterfront community and that for too long now, a great portion of our waterfront has been blighted by a toxic dump leaching into the lake.
You can read the rest of this article here: http://newsdurhamregion.com/article/98245
Harbour PR issue dead in the water
Still no Crombie report, no word on release date
Apr 22, 2008 - 03:59 PM
Oshawa This Week
By Jillian Follert
OSHAWA -- Two months and counting and still no Crombie report.
Mayor John Gray said Monday night that Oshawa councillors are being "played like a fiddle" by the federal government, as they continue to wait in good faith for the highly anticipated document to be released to the public.
"We've delayed and delayed and we've now squandered two months of getting nothing done," the mayor said in an uncharacteristically passionate appeal to his colleagues. "If there's one thing that's crystal clear about dealing with the current federal government, it's that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. We need to put the pressure on now."
You can read the rest of this article here: http://newsdurhamregion.com/article/97595
Mayor calls Region's submission to Crombie "garbage"
Apr 01, 2008
Oshawa This Week
Mayor John Gray is fuming this week, after getting a look at the confidential submission Durham Region's Economic Development and Tourism Department, handed in to David Crombie.
Oshawa council has long advocated for the creation of a people friendly waterfront, that blends a marina, residential development and community uses with existing industry.
The mayor said he thought the Region was on side with the City's plan and was stunned to learn the upper tier government seems to favour further industrialization of the area.
"It's a piece of garbage, They didn't even have regional council's blessing to submit this," Mayor Gray said. "I don't know why, but the Region seems to want a dirty, industrial port for Oshawa."
One excerpt reads, "land is scarce and with competing uses care must be taken that options contributing to a 'working harbour' are not foreclosed by short-term decisions favouring less than optimal long-term uses."
The document also lists opportunities to further develop the port, including a freight-only ferry service, a shipping partnership with the Port of Hamilton and a "processing factory for raw materials."
Marina advocate Larry Ladd called the Region's document "one of the most insulting things" he's seen and called for the staff person who wrote it, to be fired.
Pat Olive, the Region's commissioner of economic development and tourism, doesn't see what all the fuss is about, saying the Region's submission is consistent with what the City wants, because it advocates residential and commercial use in some areas of the waterfront, while maintaining a working port.
Oshawa harbour future on hold
Council holds off on part two of harbour PR campaign -- for now
Apr 01, 2008 - 11:40 AM
Oshawa This Week
By Jillian Follert
OSHAWA -- The wait continues.
It's been more than a month since David Crombie finished his highly anticipated report on the future of Oshawa's waterfront, but local stakeholders still have no idea what it says or whether the federal government will act on it.
The frustration was palpable at Monday night's council meeting, as politicians discussed whether to have patience -- or turn things up a notch by approving part two of a public relations campaign designed to pressure the feds to act.
You can read the rest of this article here: http://newsdurhamregion.com/article/96227
Council indecision on PR campaign not a good sign
On-again, off-again harbour plan making locals look wishy-washy
Mar 09, 2008 - 09:00 AM
Oshawa This Week
Oshawa council seems to believe in the “It’s better to do something -- anything -- instead of nothing” philosophy.
Confounded by the lack of immediate action on the release of David Crombie’s harbour report, Oshawa council has decided to reconsider a pricey PR campaign that may -- or may not -- get some action on the harbour issue from the federal government.
You can read the rest of this article here: http://newsdurhamregion.com/article/94889
Third time's a charm: council re-opens harbour lobby debate
MP Colin Carrie says Crombie report is coming
Mar 04, 2008 - 02:52 PM
Oshawa This Week
By Jillian Follert
OSHAWA -- With no word on when David Crombie's long-awaited report on the harbour will be released to the public, Oshawa politicians are rethinking a pricey PR campaign to get some action out of the feds.
On Monday, council voted unexpectedly to re-open the debate, amid worry it's taking too long for Crombie's report to surface.
You can read the rest of this article here: http://newsdurhamregion.com/article/94790
Let's work with Jim Flaherty on Oshawa Harbour
Feb 13, 2008 - 10:36 AM
Oshawa This Week
To the editor:
Re: Jim Flaherty should stay out of City of Oshawa's business, Gary Hood letter, Feb. 10.
Let me get this straight. The mayor is paying a professional lobbying firm to lobby the federal government.
Jim Flaherty is the minister of finance of the federal government and Gary Hood wants him to mind his own business. That makes no sense to me.
You can read the rest of this article here: http://newsdurhamregion.com/article/93760
Jim Flaherty should stay out of City of Oshawa's business
Feb 07, 2008 - 12:46 PM
Oshawa This Week
To the editor:
Not that I see eye to eye with Mayor John Gray and the daisy chain councillors at City Hall but I do give them credit.
As an Oshawa resident for more than 50 years I have been watching with some interest the recent musings by Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty on council's decision to hire a public relations firm to ensure the feds give the Port of Oshawa back to the City.
You can read the rest of this article here: http://newsdurhamregion.com/article/93427
Flaherty slams council decision to hire PR firm
Finance Minister says feds won't shelve Crombie report
Feb 05, 2008 - 08:26 AM
Oshawa This Week
By Jillian Follert
OSHAWA -- Council's recent decision to spend tens of thousands of dollars hiring a PR firm to advance the City's vision for the harbour isn't sitting well with the feds.
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, who is also the MP for Whitby-Oshawa, reacted with surprise and disappointment last week after learning council had voted to spend $134,675 on a public relations strategy orchestrated by Fleishman Hillard Canada Inc.
You can read the rest of this article here: http://newsdurhamregion.com/article/93268
Finance minister 'shocked' by council decision to hire P.R. firm
Jan 31, 2008 - 12:11 PM
Oshawa This Week
To the editor:
Re: Council votes to spend $134,675 on harbour PR campaign, Jan. 30.
I was shocked to learn that Oshawa City council approved the spending of tens of thousands of dollars on a public relations campaign to secure federal money for the Port of Oshawa.
You can read the rest of this article here: http://newsdurhamregion.com/article/93050
Council votes to spend $134,675 on harbour PR campaign
Metroland - Durham Division
Tue, 29 Jan 2008
By Jillian Follert
Council confirmed Monday night that it has hired a PR firm to advance its agenda for the Oshawa harbour, but will only be spending about a quarter of the money originally discussed. Due to incorrect information provided by councillors, This Week reported on Jan. 25 that council had voted in-camera to spend $500,000, hiring Fleishman Hillard Canada Inc. to ensure that, after David Crombie makes his recommendations on the waterfront next month, the feds follow up with cash. Council had in fact voted to hire the firm and money is already being spent -- but only up to $134,675 of funds set aside for phase one of a proposed two-phase campaign totalling $500,000.
You can read the rest of this article here: http://newsdurhamregion.com/article/92903
Harbour needs citizens to speak up
Metroland - Durham Division
Monday, August 20, 2007
Re: Sid should stick to provincial mandate, Keith Miller letter, Aug. 5.
I know Keith Miller means well when he talks about the provincial causes that need help and they do.
But when Sid Ryan speaks out about the Oshawa Harbour he is not jumping on some bandwagon. He is one of the few who have supported the harbour and waterfront for years and not only in the press.
The aggressive work we need done at the harbour is not very popular with the politicians from their penthouse views. We need a group of strong-willed, spirited individuals who will stay focused and not back down when faced with the ever-changing elected parties and the confusing meltdown this has caused in the past.
A couple of years ago, the City asked the citizens of Oshawa to come out to meetings around the city and vote on what we thought were important places to focus on. There were two polls done with the results being downtown and the waterfront placing one and two in both polls!
The people want to be in their harbour -- not be locked out while the Harbour Commission gets to use it as a personal playground, grabbing at straws trying to make something work.
Five and a half billion dollars are spent every year on recreational boating in Ontario with trickle down money going to taxi drivers, pizza places, restaurants, fishing stores and grocery outlets and a host of others... real tourism dollars.
Small business people should be asking, where do we line up?
So you see Keith, we need all the Sid Ryans to speak out. Speak up or step aside.
Gary Hood
Oshawa
Battle for Oshawa Harbour: city, citizens butt heads with feds, industry
Waterkeeper.ca Weekly
May 8, 2006
By Lake Ontario Waterkeeper
When CN applied for a licence to build a rail connection to the Oshawa Harbour in early April, many people were caught off guard. People have been talking about remediation and development for years, and the idea of a rail spur has been raised now and again by those in favour of industrial development. When Oshawa's city council rejected Gerdau Ameristeel's proposal to build a rail line to the harbour a few months ago, most thought the spur would be abandoned. Now, Oshawa's mayor John Gray is calling CN's application to the Canadian Transportation Agency a "bombshell."
The controversial proposal is the latest in a long line of gaffes at one of Lake Ontario's most woebegone harbours. The last generation used the harbour as a dumpsite. Three years ago, the Oshawa Harbour Commission closed the marina and yacht club blaming contamination. Today, the lands around the harbour house mostly industry: steel, asphalt, chemical, and nuclear interests, etc.
Until the first week of April, ongoing talks between the city and the federal government seemed to be leading towards remediation and more mixed-use development. Now Mayor John Gray says CN's $1.8-million rail spur will derail their progress. Local citizens fear it will entrench solely industrial uses in the harbour area for years to come. Supporters of the rail spur, however, are lobbying hard:
"Rail will now allow McAsphalt to better compete against our competition whom already enjoy rail, along with truck and marine options in the Millhaven and Hamilton port lands." - McAsphalt Industries
"As markets change it is necessary for us to be able to distribute certain import cargoes by rail and without a rail spur we may need to re-evaluate our continued use of ... the Port of Oshawa." – NovoSteel
"It is our belief that not going forward with the extension of the spur ... will handcuff local businesses and be detrimental to the local community, as well as undermine the local economy." - Gerdau Ameristeel
Since 2001, Lake Ontario Waterkeeper has supported the various citizen and municipal stakeholders in their bids to win back the Oshawa Harbour. We first became active in the area after learning that an old landfill site was leaking into the harbour. We supported marina users who were stripped of access to the harbour three years ago. We discussed remediation options for the harbour and supported the City of Oshawa’s vision for a clean, green and people-friendly waterfront with a healthy mixture of uses and employment opportunities. Our support for these groups and their commitment to waterfront revitalization continues to this day.
CN's application looks like an environmental assessment, but it was written in a vacuum, without true public consultation, and too rushed for its own good. As a result, it underestimates the environmental, social, and economic impacts of the project. It leaves out key facts - like the movement of nuclear materials in and out of the Oshawa Harbour, the presence of an old landfill, and the competing visions for redevelopment.
In our formal submission to the Canadian Transportation Agency, Waterkeeper asks the Canadian Transportation Agency to reject CN’s application. In the alternative, Waterkeeper asks the CTA to launch a fair, more meaningful environmental assessment that fulfils the objectives of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.
When the stakes are this high - years of negotiation, access to a public resource, the economy of a community - the Canadian Transportation Agency should do right by the public. Especially when CN, the Oshawa Harbour Commission, and industry have not.
View Lake Ontario Waterkeeper's submission to the CTA here.
City steers clear of political shoals at Oshawa harbour
'Group hug' among three political parties on the issue unlikely, says mayor.
Apr 21, 2005 - 12:00 AM
Oshawa This Week
By Lesley Bovie
OSHAWA - A move to involve all three political parties in the effort to get Oshawa a meeting with Minister of Transport Jean Lapierre on the harbour issue isn't floating at City Hall.
Oshawa's harbour negotiating team and development services committee voted down the suggestion from Councillor Nester Pidwerbecki at a joint meeting Tuesday afternoon.
Frustrated with the lack of progress on Oshawa harbour, Coun. Pidwerbecki argued that the City should form a "united front" in seeking a meeting with the minister by working with a member from the Conservative Party, NDP, Liberals, Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce, and marina users group.
"Perhaps this might help us unlock the door and get in," said Coun. Pidwerbecki.
The window of opportunity opened by a minority government is closing, he added. Once another election is held, Oshawa will be starting from square one by having to deal with another minister, he said.
"The chamber of commerce and each political party has tried to get us a meeting with the minister," Coun. Pidwerbecki said. "Everything we've tried to do individually and as a negotiating committee has had no effect."
While Coun. Pidwerbecki tried to stress his aim was to de-politicize the issue by getting all parties to work together, colleagues argued it would have the absolute opposite effect.
"No one can be happy with the results we've achieved because there have been no results," said Mayor John Gray. "But this motion isn't going to move us forward. I don't think you're going to see the NDP, Conservatives and Liberals all lay down their arms for a group hug."
Councillor Mike Nicholson warned the committee that political parties only look at Oshawa harbour as a way to get their candidates elected here. And while the chamber and marina users group have interest in the harbour, they shouldn't speak for the citizens of Oshawa, he argued.
"There's only one person that speaks for the City of Oshawa as a whole and that's the mayor," Coun. Mike Nicholson added.
Meanwhile, councillors also decided Tuesday to recommend council that dissolve the harbour negotiating team and replace it with an Oshawa waterfront coordinating committee. It would include the mayor as chairman, the regional and local ward councillors, the chairman of development services committee and one member of council appointed at large by council.
The mandate of the committee is to deal with such waterfront issues as Second Marsh, environmental issues, Oshawa harbour, development opportunities adjacent to the harbour and waterfront, and park and trail development.
Councillor Brian Nicholson called Oshawa's waterfront "a big picture issue," one that includes more than just the harbour, but also the Jubilee Pavilion rejuvenation, the Stone Street master plan and other key components. Other councillors pointed out that it would allow the City to explore more funding opportunities under the envelope of the waterfront.
But Coun. Pidwerbecki felt the committee will have more than it can handle by piling on more issues. He also questioned development services committee chairwoman Louise Parkes having a seat, given that she was Oshawa's last Liberal candidate.
"And you accuse me of being political," he added.
The new committee will be established following a council caucus on committee structure and membership in June, during which it's anyone's guess who the new development services committee chairman could be, Coun. Brian Nicholson said afterward.