Edward Cornwallis statue should be 'prominently displayed,' Hendsbee says

A municipalcouncillor says he doesn't want to see a statue of Edwarrd Cornwallis removed from the Halifax landscape, and is suggesting it instead be relocated from a downtown park to the city's waterfront.

"Edward Cornwallis founded Halifax," said David Hendsbee, the councillor forPrestonChezzetcookEastern Shore. "He should be prominentlydisplayed and acknowledged."

Premier Stephen McNeil plans to ask the municipality to remove the statue from Cornwallis Park in the south end because of Cornwallis's history with the Mi'kmaq people.

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Cornwallis founded Halifax and was an early governor of Nova Scotia,but he offered a cash bounty to anyone who killed a Mi'kmaq person.

The premier has already taken down the Cornwallis River signs that were close to a First Nation community in the Annapolis Valley.

Hendsbeeis in favour of putting the statue near the Halifax ferry terminal whereCornwallisis thoughtto have disembarked in 1749. He'd also like to have the statue facing west towards the Halifax Citadel.

"If the Mi'kmaq nation wants their history to be known, perhaps they can use a renamed Cornwallis Park to do that," Hendsbee said.

Hendsbee is clear on one point. The fate of the statue cannot be decided by the premier or the mayor.

"It's up to (regional) council," he said.