Windsor city council endorses NDP MP Masse's proposal for Ojibway Shores

Windsor city council has endorsed a proposal by NDP MP Brian Masse to request that the federal government transfer Ojibway Shores land for the purpose of including it in a national urban park. 

In a letter to Ottawa, Masse requests the transfer from the Windsor Port Authority (WPA) to Environment Canada so the land (about 33 hectares of greenspace) can be included in a national urban park.

"It's something the community has brought forth and we've been championing for a number of different years," he said.

Masse has been pursuing the national urban park idea for years, but the fate of the land was called into question earlier this month when a land exchange between the WPA, the City of Windsor and private property owner Mike Dorian fell through.

Since 2018, the city had been in negotiations with the WPA to eventually take ownership of Ojibway Shores. The plan included the expropriation of 13 hectares of industrial land from Dorian, who lives in Clinton Township in Michigan, but owns property in the area. 

Wrench thrown in land exchange talks

Under the plan, the city would expropriate the industrial land and it would be given to the WPA. In exchange, the port authority would cede ownership of Ojibway Shores, the last remaining, undeveloped natural shoreline in Windsor-Detroit, according to Masse.

But Dorian recently sold his land to a local buyer, throwing a wrench into the three-year land exchange negotiation.

According to Masse, the port authority is also balking at taking the industrial land, saying it's unacceptable to them. A federal transfer of Ojibway Shores from the WPA to Environment Canada would seemingly remove that hindrance, among other benefits.

If Masse is successful, Ojibway Shores along with other municipal parks and reserves in the area — including Ojibway Park, Spring Garden Natural Area, Black Oak Heritage Park and the Tallgrass Prairie Park — would combine to form a national urban park.

Masse says a total of about 360 hectares of land could be included in a park system.

What's in the letter

Masse addressed the letter to:

• Catherine McKenna, minister of infrastructure and communities.
• Jonathan Wilkinson, minister of environment and climate change.
• Omar Alghabra, transport minister.

Masse points out a growing consensus among local residents, national and international environmental organizations about establishing the park. He says even Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has expressed support.

In the letter, he also says it should not be paid for by taxpayers, but the federal government should seize the opportunity "to combat climate change, protect endangered species and help municipalities with a simple direct action."