Charlottetown group pushing for movement on farm

The Friends of the Farm would like to see government get going with some kind of plan for the 55-hectare experimental farm property in Charlottetown.

Agriculture Canada announced in 2001 that the land was surplus, and the future of the green space in the centre of Charlottetown has been uncertain ever since.

Proposals have included a plan from the Mi'kmaq Confederacy for a convention centre and apartments for seniors, and a detailed Friends of the Farm plan to retain it as a green space. In the meantime, Agriculture Canada has said it could retain the site for agricultural research.

Bert Christie, spokesman for Friends of the Farm, told CBC News Wednesday that while his group would rather have the status quo than unwelcome development, they would like to hold community events there.

Special event denied

Earlier this year, his group and the Women's Institute approached Agriculture Canada about holding a pumpkin festival on the site.

"We were told no, you cannot have such a thing on the property," said Christie.

"The reason cited was liability, but we said well we would be willing to take out liability insurance just for that day to cover us, but they still couldn't get permission."

Christie said given all the effort that's gone into planning for the future of the experimental farm, his group would like to see some movement. At this point, even the value of the land and who might own it remains unresolved.

The last offer from Agriculture Canada was $8 million if the city or province wanted to buy it, but neither government was ready to put up that money.

"The other thing we suggested was Ag Canada lease it to us, for example, and we would have the city look after it, but they didn't seem very keen on that idea so it didn't go anywhere," said Christie.

Now that the federal election is over, Friends of the Farm is hoping to meet with government about the future of the property.