In a marathon meeting on Friday, December 18, 2009 Oshawa councilors poured over the confidential report on the harbour. Council voted unanimously to accept the staff report which will now be taken back to Transport Canada, with a finalized deal expected early in the New Year.

“The Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce welcomed the news of the deal, details of which are being kept under close wraps by the City, which will transform the Oshawa waterfront and put ten years of debate and political posturing to bed so we can all get on with business”, stated Dave Hare, Chamber President.

Since October 1998, when the discussion of a CPA was first presented, the Chamber of Commerce has supported an industrial, commercial and recreational operation at Port Oshawa so long as it can remain financially self-sufficient. The Chamber feels the Port has significant economic benefits for existing businesses in Durham Region and the potential to attract new businesses and in these tough economic times, help create jobs.

In April, Finance Minister Flaherty and MP Colin Carrie’s joint announcement on the Government of Canada’s intention to provide $9.2 million over two years to address the contamination on Oshawa Harbour marina lands was closely followed by Transport Minister Baird’s announcement in May to create a Canada Port Authority (CPA) to operate the Port of Oshawa.

The Chamber hopes that by the end of January the deal on the harbour will be finalized and it will clear the way for the shovels to be in the ground for remediation of the lands by early spring and with the new CPA in place in early 2010.