Skeena – Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen said he would like to see more people sitting at the table when it comes to the development of Prince Rupert’s waterfront.
Cullen made the comments during a recent media conference call, and said the debate about appropriate land use outlined is nothing new when it comes to the development of the Port of Prince Rupert.
“This seems to come up again and again… What I wish for Prince Rupert, and what I think many people wish for Prince Rupert, is an overseeing body made up of community stakeholders to look at the use of the waterfront,” he said.
“Until this type of group is created, it will always look like a bit of a power struggle with the Prince Rupert Port Authority in relation to the port lands.”
As for the City’s assertion that the Prince Rupert Port Authority is in a conflict of interest when it comes to the expansion of Fairview Terminal, as the port is listed as a regulator and the proponent of the project, Cullen said he has no inkling of inappropriate operation.
“They are in a bit of a grey zone… It is an unusual way of doing things when you are a government body working at arm’s length of the government, but you have regulatory abilities. But a lot of that goes back to how things have been done historically,” he said.
“Is there a conflict of interest? There may be. But I do think the Prince Rupert Port Authority has been very successful in developing Fairview Terminal.”
