
CORNWALL – The federal government says over 300 acres of waterfront land in the City of Cornwall will be sold “within two years.”
That’s according to a PowerPoint presentation to be presented to city council on Monday night by Rachel Parkin, a real estate spokesperson for Transport Canada.
There are roughly 321 acres (129.99 hectares) of land under federal government control, stretching from the dam at Lake St. Lawrence to (but not including) the Harbour Road wharf.
The land currently has various leases, licences and memorandums of understanding with various user groups and organizations, including the City of Cornwall.
The process to divest the land has been going on since June 2013 when Transport Canada was approved to sell 5,400 acres of St. Lawrence Seaway lands, including the eight parcels in Cornwall.
All the survey and appraisal work has been completed in Cornwall but there is still consultation to be completed with Akwesasne, which is ongoing, and environmental work by Canada Lands Company (CLC) once the land is sold.
The government is also awaiting a heritage determination for the RCAFA Wing 424 building.
Transport Canada will be doing a formal assessment of interest in the land later this year with various levels of government, although an initial check shows interest in all eight parcels.
Monday’s council meeting starts at 7 p.m. at 360 Pitt Street.