But Port Stanley Harbour will be cleaned up by feds

By CHIP MARTIN

ST. THOMAS - Central Elgin Mayor Sylvia Hofhuis said today her municipality never expected to see any infrastructure funds in this week's federal budget to deal with Port Stanley Harbour.

Transport Canada owns the harbour and has been talking for years with the Municipality of Central Elgin about turning over the harbour to the municipality. A major issue affecting the talks is who will pay to clean up contaminants in harbour lands left by industrial activity.

Hofhuis said at a news conference this morning that she believes the federal agency will ensure sufficient funds are available.
She said she expects to conclude the four-year-long talks about harbour ownership by early next year.

Once a deal is struck, Hofhuis promised to ensure Central Elgin ratepayers won't be saddled with the cost to clean it.

"We are not going to back a deal that isn't in the best interest of Central Elgin," she said.
 
The harbour likely won't be dredged until after the divestiture agreement between Central Elgin and Transport Canada has been signed, Hofhuis said.

She was echoed by MP Joe Preston, who said he will ensure that the federal government will "fix what needs to be fixed.

"This needs to done right," said Preston.