It was a historic event in the city after details of the harbour agreement were revealed publicly after more than a year of negotiations between the City of Oshawa and the federal government.
But it wasn’t just the fact that some of the lands wanted by the city were being returned, but that the city has a plan to make Oshawa’s harbour a viable resource for the future.
Sure, there were areas that are cause for concern – namely the fact that the Gifford Farm lands were not returned to the city and there was absolutely no mention of an ethanol plant, which means anything could happen down at the port.
But at the end of the day when Mayor Gray said that you can’t always get what you want, he was right.
Harbour activists have every right to wonder and speculate what the future holds for the lands on the east side that are under the power of a Canada Port Authority, but they also have reason to be relieved that a re-established Oshawa Marina seems to be in the cards.
They have reason to feel optimistic about residential and commercial uses down at the waterfront.
This is a step in the right direction.
And it has been a long time coming.
It’s amazing what can happen when 40 years of head butting, mud slinging and name-calling ends and politicians essentially stay out of it.
City staff and Transport Canada representatives ultimately came up with this deal, meaning the politicians just had to sign on the dotted line.
While it’s true residents may not truly be satisfied with this deal, at the end of the day the future of the harbour is becoming a reality.
Instead of a stagnant harbourfront with no hope for a future, the city chose to push ahead, causing a few ripples along the way.
A new harbour is coming to Oshawa.