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| M.P. Bob Bratina |
1. M.P. Bratina, What are your views concerning the status of the Discovery Centre and its land and their treatment to date?
The Discovery Centre was an ambitious project with great potential but ultimately neglected and allowed to fail by the previous federal government. It was subsequently mishandled by the Waterfront Trust, an organization lacking the resources or competence to undertake a successful project for the site.
2.Why are these lands and the Centre important to the future of Hamilton? Should these lands be protected in the public realm?
These lands and their original intended use were part of a vision to help reset the image of Hamilton by attacking one of our iconic negative symbols...the bay and its water. The Centre and the waterfront trail were a partnership between the City and the federal government to open the harbour to the people of Hamilton, and not as a precursor to residential development.
3.How does the progress made on the Randle Reef tie into the Discovery Centre and the lands on which it rests?
When the Randle Reef project is completed there should be a major celebration of the removal of one of North America's environmental toxic hot-spots. Its story can and should be told in an interpretive centre that just so happens to be in place, ready to adapt to .a new and special role for all residents, and indeed visitors from everywhere to enjoy, complete with a delightful open air restaurant patio. And without the need for late-night dance parties.
4. What advice might you have to Hamilton’s municipal government with respect to this matter.
Consult with all stakeholders, including all relevant elected officials in an open and transparent process that is not at the moment apparent.
5. Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know concerning these lands or any other matter you have been working on in the best interests of Hamilton?
During my time as mayor I was subject to a somewhat informal but nevertheless focused lobby to explore residential development on the site. As mayor I could assure the public that the future of those lands would be a matter of broad public discussion. I can't under current circumstances provide that same assurance.
Thanks to M.P. Bratina for engaging with Hamiltonians via The Hamiltonian
wow, straight answers to the questions posed, that's an outdated concept Bob. But thanks, it's refreshing.
ReplyDelete"Broad public discussion" has also fallen on hard times.
Mayor Fred would prefer to exercise his veto.
I saw in the Spec earlier this year that a young man had caught an 8lb walleye thru the ice...the proverbial canary in the coal mine. If we can get them reproducing in the Bay our local fishing industry will generate revenues we never imagined.
We've made real progress here in my lifetime, I hope it continues.
Partisan grindstones aside, the Discovery Centre's greatest failing was that it was conceived as a static monument to the Great Lakes and Parks Canada properties. Kudos to Sheila Copps for making it happen, but it needed a substantial operating budget in order to be more than just a highfalutin civic museum. If you visited once, there was almost no reason to return.
ReplyDeleteTuancheng
I don't think that the city of Hamilton has had true transparent consultations for at least a decade. There is a facade for sure and fancy PICs, but people who know what's goign on (sadly few), understand this dynamic in Hamilton.
ReplyDeleteThe interests of developers always come first , at the expense of the public. This is a very fatal flaw that has alwwways prevented the "ambitious city" from reaching its potential. btw, in other muncipalities, Hamilton is sometimes referred to as the "c" city- has a "p" in the c name.
It is best to resign ourselves to:
1. We will not reach our potential, that being the case.
2. It is so bad that most people don't vote- hence the council we have.
3. those who have the guts to run have the odds stacked against them with the huge advantage that incumbants have.
4. We need term limits but won't get them.
5. Councilors keep runnign over and over paythetically.
6. MSM do superficial "lob" reporting. I use the term reporting loosely.And incumbants are given tons of advertising space, under the guise of city issues.
It's an election year. Get ready for the lifers to start rolling out the goodies for enhancement. its part of the advantage they have.
You get what you vote for. And what you got to vote for, is what it is.
Get Used to it (GUTI)