Windsor city council endorses NDP MP Masse's proposal for Ojibway Shores

Windsor city council has endorseda proposal by NDP MP Brian Masse to request that the federal government transfer Ojibway Shores land for the purpose of including it in a national urban park.

In a letter to Ottawa, Masse requeststhetransfer from the Windsor Port Authority (WPA) to Environment Canada so the land (about 33 hectares of greenspace) can be included ina national urban park.

"It's something the community has brought forth and we've been championing for a number of different years," he said.

Masse has been pursuingthe national urban park idea foryears, but the fate of the land was called into question earlier this month when a land exchange between the WPA, the City of Windsor and private property owner Mike Dorian fell through.

Since 2018, the city had been in negotiations with the WPA to eventually take ownership of Ojibway Shores. The plan included the expropriation of 13 hectares of industrial land from Dorian, who lives inClinton Township inMichigan, but owns property in the area.

Wrench thrown in land exchange talks

Under the plan, the city would expropriate the industrial land and it would be given to theWPA. In exchange, the port authority would cede ownership of Ojibway Shores, thelast remaining, undeveloped natural shoreline in Windsor-Detroit, according to Masse.

But Dorian recently sold his land to a local buyer, throwing a wrench into the three-year land exchangenegotiation.

According to Masse, the port authority is also balking at taking the industrial land, saying it's unacceptable to them. A federal transfer of Ojibway Shores from theWPA to Environment Canada would seemingly remove that hindrance, among other benefits.

If Masse is successful, Ojibway Shoresalong with other municipal parks and reserves in the areaincludingOjibway Park, Spring Garden Natural Area, Black Oak Heritage Park andthe Tallgrass Prairie Park would combine to form a national urban park.

Masse saysa total of about 360 hectares of land could be included ina park system.

What's in the letter

Masse addressed the letter to:

• Catherine McKenna, minister of infrastructure and communities.
• Jonathan Wilkinson, minister of environment and climate change.
• Omar Alghabra, transport minister.

Masse pointsout a growing consensus among local residents, national and international environmental organizations about establishing the park. He sayseven Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hasexpressed support.

In the letter, he also says it should not be paid for by taxpayers, but the federal government should seize the opportunity "to combat climate change, protect endangered species and help municipalities with a simple direct action."