Friends of the Farm walk away from experimental farm proposal

JIM DAY
The Guardian



Friends of the Farm abruptly severed its participation Tuesday in the Mi’kmaq Confederacy of P.E.I. planning process to create a proposal for corporate development of the experimental farm property in the heart of Charlottetown.
The MCPEI invited stakeholders Tuesday to learn details of a draft by the consulting firm it contracted to help develop a plan for use of the property once it is declared surplus.
Bert Christie, a member of the Friends of the Farm executive, was joined by representatives of the Farmers Market Co-op and a group representing residents of Barrymore Court, in declaring they are walking away from this particular planning process.
Christie said the Friends of the Farm do not endorse any corporate ownership of the experimental farm.
“They (MCPEI) have been very emphatic that they want to have the land owned by a corporation … we felt there wasn’t much point in having any discussions with them,” he said. “We didn’t see much point.”
Jeff Brant, CEO of the Mi’kmaq Development Corporation, says he was very disappointed with the group’s position.
“It’s somewhat of a childish move, I think, but, you know, that is their decision,” he said of the group making their statement then marching out of the room before hearing details of the draft proposal. “I think it is counterproductive to not see what the results were (of the consultant’s report).”
Brant said the MCPEI still plans to go ahead with requesting the land be given to the Mi’kmaq once it has been declared surplus. He said the Mi’kmaq Confederacy will have a finalized document on its proposed development plan for the property within a couple of weeks and that conceptual design will be presented to the public.
“Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has consistently said that land is not surplus at this time and there is no plan to do so and we fully respect that,” he added.
“What we’ve done through this process is we’re sending a signal to government to say ‘look, should you decide to make it surplus, there is a vision for the property here that is really in the best interest of the city, the province and the Mi’kmaq as well’.”
Charlottetown Councillor Mitchell Tweel said the message he has heard loud and clear from residents of the city is the property must remain green.
“This is a legacy that we should be leaving for generations to come … this should be for all Islanders and the citizens of Charlottetown,” he said. “This is no disrespect to the Mi’kmaq Confederacy.”
Brant stressed, though, that the goal of the MCPEI is to develop the property for all to enjoy but also to ensure that it is sustainable.
“Our focus is responsible economic development that balances the need for green space. It’s a beautiful piece of property. We want to make it more open to the public … the public does not enjoy the full enjoyment that it could from the property as it stands.”
Christie said the Friends will continue to push the federal government to turn the land over to either the city or the province to provide for the development of a permanent cultural and ecological landscape, and to provide for gardens, arboretum, and agricultural demonstration area with historical and scientific interpretation for the use of the public.
08/04/09