Mi'kmaq waterfront development step closer to reality

The Charlottetown waterfront development proposal from the Mi'kmaq Confederacy of P.E.I. is one step closer to happening after Monday's meeting of city council.

This is the second time the three-storey building has been before council. It failed to pass in August.

But MCPEI asked for a reconsideration. This time the proposal was split into two resolutions, one to rezone the property from port to waterfront, and the second to allow a rental car agency in the building. Both resolutions passed first and second reading, to the pleasure of Abegweit Chief Brain Francis. He saidthe reconsideration allowed them to better explain what they want to do with the building.

"I think once council saw that it made the difference," said Francis.

Community to have a say

Francis nowplans to get input from community members as to what they want the building to be, but said the original plan will stick.

"We're pretty proud of the way it looks and we'll see what the community wants to see in there as well. Certainly a friendship centre aspect, [and] spaces to provide services to our people and programming and so on." Francis said.

At a public meeting on Nov.2there was a suggestion of a development agreement to ensure no entertainment establishment would go into the plan, but one was not signed. MCPEI made it clear that was never and willnever be in the plan.

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The goal, said Francis, is about promoting Indigenous culture to visitors and Islanders alike, something the group is focusing more and more on.

"P.E.I. is all Mi'kmaqterritory. We're really proud of it," he said.

"[It's} time to show the people that we're proud of it, and there's many different ways to do that."

The bylaw amendments needed for the development still have to pass third reading, which is expected to happen at next council meeting.

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