In 1995, the federal government introduced the National Marine Policy.  One of the elements of the policy was the transfer of the ownership and operation of those ports that no longer served a national function.  Port Stanley was identified as a port to be transferred.  (In Ontario, only Toronto, Hamilton, Windsor and Thunder Bay were identified as having a national function).  Under the policy, a port is to be offered to another federal government department first, then to the Government of Ontario if the federal government no longer wishes to retain it, and then to the local municipality or another entity if the provincial government does not wish to assume it. 

The former Village of Port Stanley, the new Municipality of Central Elgin, four industrial users and the County of Elgin investigated the divestiture of the harbour in the late 1990s.  The County of Elgin entered into formal negotiations to acquire the harbour.  In 2000, the County of Elgin ceased negotiations citing an aboriginal land claim by the Walpole Island First Nation as a factor in the County's decision.

In 2003, Transport Canada invited entities with an interest in acquiring Port Stanley Harbour to submit an expression of interest.  In 2004, Transport Canada ceased this process.

In December 2004, the Council of the Municipality of Central Elgin announced that the Municipality was prepared to enter into divestiture negotiations with Transport Canada. (click here to view News Release).  In January 2005, Council authorized the signing of a Letter of Intent (click here to view) and Transport Canada's Disclosure of Information Agreement (click here to view).  To provide negotiating advice and assist with carrying out the due diligence process, the Municipality has retained Mark Conway, RPP of N. Barry Lyons Consultants Ltd., Toronto and Brian Riggs, P.Eng of Riggs Engineering Ltd., London.  Mr. Conway is a land use planner with experience in port economic development.  Mr. Riggs is a civil engineer with expertise in marine facilities.  In addition, the Municipality has retained solicitor Nicholas T. Macos to provide legal advice and Dillon Consulting to provide advice on environmental matters.  

The Municipality hosted a focus group meeting in June 2005.  The meeting was facilitated by staff from the Elgin Community Futures Development Corp.  The public was invited to attend the meeting.  The focus group was intended to provide a forum for the public to share its vision and ideas for the future use of the harbour.  The proceeds of the focus group meeting were summarized in a report which was submitted to Council (click here to view report).

On January 29, 2009, Mayor Sylvia Hofhuis and Joe Preston MP, Elgin-Middlesex-London, hosted a news conference to update the public on the status of harbour Divestiture;

To view the Mayor's News Release, click here;

To view the Mayor's Statement at the News Conference, click here;

To view the Open Letter from Joe Preston MP and Mayor Sylvia Hofhuis to the public, click here.

The negotiation of a successful agreement with Transport Canada to acquire Port Stanley Harbour is one of Council's most important goals and objectives. 

Status of Transport Canada's Divestiture Program

Over 470 of the 549 identified Transport Canada regional/local ports have been transferred or demolished.  Transport Canada indicates that the average divestiture within Canada has taken 34.7 months.*

Transport Canada has identified a number of factors that have affected the rate of divestiture of ports including: