Two portions of the bay were listed for sale by the Pickering Harbour Company
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Two privately owned portions of Pickering’s scenic waterfront could soon be in public hands.
The City of Pickering announced in a news release on Friday that it has “reached an important milestone in its long-standing efforts to bring Frenchman’s Bay into public ownership.”
In partnership with the federal and provincial governments, and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, the city said it was in the final stages of acquiring privately owned sections of the bay.
Two portions of the bay were listed for sale by the Pickering Harbour Company (PHC) in October 2023 for a combined price of $80 million, which included 34 acres on Lake Ontario and 133 acres on Frenchman’s Bay.
While most bodies of water are typically under Crown ownership, PHC has owned these portions since 1853 under a pre-Confederation Charter issued by the Crown.
The city made two informal proposals to PHC to buy the bay, one of which included a $30 million bid, but both were rejected by its owners.
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Feds urged to jump on board with acquisition plan
In a video last October, Pickering’s Mayor Kevin Ashe said the city needed the federal government to be an equal funding partner with the city and the province to “protect this jewel” from private development.
It seems the federal government has finally jumped on board, with the city’s announcement last week that “key parties” are now working on establishing a framework for a funding agreement and management model.
“Frenchman’s Bay is the shimmering jewel of Pickering and an integral part of our identity. We are encouraged by the progress we have made and the shared commitment of everyone involved,” Ashe said in a statement.
“There is still work ahead, including ongoing discussions with Indigenous community partners, but we have a strong path forward toward bringing the Bay into public ownership and ensuring it remains a treasured part of our community,” he added.
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