No takers yet for P.E.I. lighthouses

There have been no proposals to take over any of the P.E.I. lighthouses declared surplus by the federal government earlier this year.

In May, all the lighthouses in Canada owned by the federal government went on the block. Community groups have been asked to tell Parks Canada if they're interested in taking ownership of any of them. So far, there hasn't been a single proposal from P.E.I.

Carol Livingstone, president of the P.E.I. Lighthouse Society, said there is no need to panic, but there is cause for concern.

"I do hope that people won't become complacent and think nothing is going to happen, because it does take some period of time to pull all of this together," said Livingstone.

"There is not a panic, but we don't want to leave it until there is."

The federal government said there are 68 active and inactive lighthouses up for grabs on the Island. Livingstone believes there are probably about 30 that groups might be interested in.

Tourism PEI and the lighthouse society are offering to help with submissions. They're planning some information meetings this Fall.

Larry Ostola, director general of history sites for Parks Canada, is not worried about the lack of interest so far.

"I think they will respond," said Ostola.

"I think it's just a question of perhaps, again I'm speculating, but, during the summer people are on vacation and so on, and I think that as we head into the fall, we'll expect to see more petitions being submitted."

Groups have until May 2012 to tell the federal government if they're interested in taking over a lighthouse.