An environmental assessment, details of the transfer still outstanding Central Elgin is the master of Port Stanley’s destiny.

On April 22, Central Elgin Council voted unanimously to accept an offer from Transport Canada that gives control of Port Stanley Harbour to the community. Transport Canada will
also give the municipality a lump sum of money sufficient to cover harbour dredging and maintenance costs for 35 years.

“With the Port under our control, we possess a quality we never had before – certainty; certainty when the harbour will be dredged, certainty what the harbour area will look like, and certainty for new and existing businesses that their investments will be supported through a reinvigorated port,” said Mayor Tom Marks.
“In the not-so-distant future, I believe the citizens of Central Elgin will look upon this as a turning point for our municipality,” he said.

The agreement comes after more than five years of negotiations that at times looked less than promising, Mayor Marks said.
“I’m very proud of our Council and our staff for the courage to work for years through great adversity to bring a very complex arrangement to a successful conclusion. 

“I would like to make special note that this day would not have come about without the extraordinary efforts of my predecessors as mayor, David Rock and Sylvia Hofhuis, and of
Deputy Mayor David Marr, Chair of the Divestiture Steering Committee.

“Special thanks are also due to our senior staff, consultant Mark Conway and the rest of our consulting team, MP Joe Preston, and Rob Bergevin at Transport Canada.”

Once an environmental risk assessment is complete and final details of the agreement signed off, Transport Canada will transfer ownership of Port Stanley Harbour to the Municipality of
Central Elgin.