Bruce McArthur was faced with a tough challenge Monday night as he addressed council on the Oshawa Harbour Commission’s development plans and what it could mean to the City.

As the council appointed member of the harbour commission, McArthur was there to share his thoughts on the long awaited move to a Canada Port Authority, which he says is imminent, as well as some business plans, including his take on the controversial ethanol refinery that is proposed at the waterfront.

McArthur was prepared for the onslaught of questions he would face from councillors, but prefaced his presentation by saying he was simply giving an update.

“I’m not the spokesman of the Oshawa Harbour Commission. I have taken an oath of office, which I have to respect,” he told members of council. “I bring the City of Oshawa’s interests to the table.”

McArthur was the only person to come forward from the commission at this point after Chairman Gary Valcour declined to participate, stating it was too soon to give an update.

“We look forward to sharing our views and plans on the continued development of the Port but in our view this is neither the time nor the format in which to do so,” Valcour writes in a letter to the City. “As Council is aware, we are in the final stages of the transition from Harbour Commission to Port Authority. It would be presumptuous, inappropriate and potentially misleading for us to lay out our ideas and assume the Board will adopt those ideas holus bolus…I am equally confident that, as soon as it is in a position to do so, the new Port Authority will make its development plans available to the City Council for comment and that it will do so in an appropriate manner.”

In the July 2010 harbour agreement that was reached between the federal government, the harbour commission and the former council, it was declared that the Oshawa harbour would be run by a Canada Port Authority. This means the federal government will still own the crown lands it divided as part of the settlement, creating an authority composed of representatives from the City, the province, the federal government and stakeholders.

This goes against a September 2008 report by David Crombie, which recommended the lands be returned to the City. A governance model was supposed to be developed from there.

McArthur told members of council where the port authority status is at this point and what the next steps are in its development.

“The (transport) minister has signed off on his concerns. He recognized the port of Oshawa as self-sustaining. The next step it went to treasury. The next step is when the cabinet considers it,” he says, adding this means a new governance model will form.

“One of the first things we are charged with is developing a business plan. The land use study will commence when we are a port authority. Under the port authority I hope that we go forward and knock the socks right off you.”

McArthur was also prepared for questions pertaining to the proposed ethanol plant, as City council launched a ‘No Ethanol’ plant campaign this summer collecting thousands of signatures in opposition to the facility.

He made it clear he was only giving his take on the plant, not that of the commission’s, stating some people have different views.

“The ethanol plant is under constant discussion at our meetings. I represent the interests of Oshawa. Sometimes there are arguments contrary to mine,” he says. “It’s my opinion that the (proposed) ethanol plant where its situated is in the wrong place. More shipping will be coming in. This particular facility would certainly act as a road block.”

“It’s currently in front of Agriculture Canada. They at some point will make a decision whether it’s suitable or not.”

McArthur also highlighted some of the commission’s successes to date, which included around 27,000 tons of corn being sent down river in 2010.

“All of this is coming from local farmers,” he says, adding this is only projected to go up.

With more business and revenue, McArthur made it clear the value of Oshawa’s port.

“We are moving forward. It is an industrial harbour and we are putting in a rail spur at this time,” he explains. “We are getting all kinds of commitments to use that railroad.”

He says with the wheat industry coming back in Thunder Bay, Oshawa will only benefit with more shipments.

“It’s a win-win situation. Plans for the new deep water facility are ongoing. It’s a five-year project.”

But while McArthur pointed out the successes of the port, Mayor John Henry made it clear that the City has plans of its own too.

“This council has been incredibly proactive. We have development too,” he says, “We would like that opportunity to deliver that to our residents.”

It’s no secret that relations between the commission and the City have been strained at times, which is something Councillor Nancy Diamond would like to see remedied.

“We are making every effort to honour that deal that was made by the previous council,” she says. “What can we do to try and improve, just communication…and remind the harbour commissioners that they are a part of this community?”

For McArthur it comes down to mutual agreement and cooperation.

“Time heals all,” he says, adding the future does look bright for Oshawa’s harbour.

“We have to be aware of the world around us. It (the harbour) has a tremendous opportunity to serve businesses…and act as a gateway to the world.”

See original article via Oshawa Express.