Question from Charlottetown Council about a bar at Mi'kmaq Confederacy's new friendship centre causes concern

The question of whether a bar would ever be a part of the Mi'kmaq Confederacy of PEI's plan for development on the waterfront caused a bit of a stir at a public meeting in Charlottetown this week.

The issue came up at Tuesday night's planning meeting held by Charlottetown City Council. 

That is a racially offensive stereotype.– Don MacKenzie

The plan for a Aboriginal friendship centre has been turned down once, but is now up for reconsideration. 

Councillor Melissa Hilton asked if MCPEI would consider signing a development agreement, which would include a clause never to put in a bar or entertainment establishment. 

A number of councillors said they have been hearing complaints from the public regarding this development. 

But MCPEI staff and Chief Brian Francis, along with a member of the public, questioned the question itself. 

"There has never been an element of a casino, a bar or a drinking establishment in our presentation, and quite frankly that is a racially offensive stereotype," said MCPEI Executive Director Don MacKenzie, when asked the question after his presentation to council.

Protecting interest of public, council says

Council assured the meeting that the question had nothing to do with race, but was about protecting the interest of the public.

The property is zoned as Port now, allowing development related to port activity. MCPEI wants it rezoned to Waterfront, which allows a variety of development.

Planning Board chair Greg Rivard explained that once a property is rezoned the owner and future owners can use the building for any purpose that is allowed in that zone. But a development agreement would prevent that.

Often asks developers

Rivard said the city often asks developers to sign one if there is concern from the public.

"It gives the City of Charlottetown some teeth for the future. That if they're not following the rules outlined in the development agreement, the City of Charlottetown can step in," said Rivard.

Although MCPEI originally found the question about potential future uses offensive, by the end of the meeting Chief Brian Francis, speaking on behalf of MCPEI, said he was satisfied with the city's response. 

"I take them at their word, if they say it's asked of everyone [developers] I take them at their word until I hear differently." 

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