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David Crombie appointed to mediate waterfront woes

Recommendations will go to minister in January

Sep 12, 2007 - 04:09 PM

By Jillian Follert

OSHAWA -- After years of false starts, Oshawa MP Colin Carrie says the future of the city’s waterfront is looking brighter, now that political heavyweight David Crombie has joined the team.

Mr. Carrie held a press conference at the harbour Wednesday to formally announce Mr. Crombie’s appointment as federal representative on the future of Port Oshawa and local waterfront redevelopment.

The newly-created position was appointed by Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.

“Mr. Crombie has experience at the municipal and federal level and with waterfronts,” said Mr. Carrie. “I would challenge anyone to come up with someone more qualified to act as a mediator for this process.”

Mr. Crombie said he would start work immediately, first meeting with individual stakeholders and groups to get a clear picture of everyone’s vision for the waterfront. From there, he will make recommendations to Mr. Cannon, by the end of January 2008.

“There is enormous potential for this waterfront,” Mr. Crombie told the crowd of politicians and stakeholders gathered for Wednesday’s announcement. “I visit a lot of waterfronts and you’ll have to go thousands of miles to find any waterfront that has the potential of here.”

The newly appointed representative stressed he will not be pushing an agenda of his own, saying Oshawa’s waterfront has enough visions. Instead, he envisions himself as a “knitter” who will bring together different ideas.

Mayor John Gray is confident he will be successful.
    “Given that David Crombie has enormous stature and credibility when it comes to waterfronts, I think this absolutely will work,” he said. “He will be seen as a neutral party that everyone can bring their expectations to."

Mr. Crombie is president of the Canadian Urban Institute and founding chairman of Toronto’s Waterfront Regeneration Trust.

He served as mayor of Toronto from 1972 to 1978 and as a Progressive Conservative MP from 1978 to 1988, during which time he held three cabinet posts including secretary of state.

In 2005, he became an Officer of the Order of Canada and is also the current chairman of Ontario Place Corporation and chairman of the Advisory Council of the Nuclear Waste Management Organization.

Mr. Crombie comes to this new position as debate rages over a proposed rail spur at the harbour. At the same time, FarmTech Energy Corporation has identified the port of Oshawa as the preferred site for an ethanol plant.

Despite these challenges, Mr. Carrie says progress is already being made, saying Mr. Cannon has met with stakeholders over the past 18 months.

“We have a great team here,” he said. “Sometimes it’s nice to be able to bring in a closer.”

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