Canada Lands Company’s View on Upton Concert

 March 5, 2008

Kirsten Connor
for the Upton Farm Preservation Network
59 Queen Elizabeth Drive
Charlottetown, PE
C1A 3A8

Dear Kirsten,

Thank you for your letter of March 3, 2008, in which you indicate that the Upton Farm Preservation Network will not oppose the City’s request to use a portion of the Upton Farm lands as a concert venue on a one-time basis subject to certain understandings. Thank you also for acknowledging your appreciation for the leadership shown by Canada Lands Company (CLC) in establishing the Upton Farmlands consultation committee.

As you are aware, the consultation process was established by CLC at the request of the Province of PEI and the City of Charlottetown, among others. The integrity of the process is important to us, as I’m sure it is to you and your Network. A draft terms of reference for the consultation process has been circulated to you, CLC and representatives of the City of Charlottetown and the Province of PEI by the facilitators. The first meeting of the consultation committee is scheduled for April 1, 2008, to begin discussions on issues like the terms of reference, mandate and scope of the process.

As per your letter and as per the meeting of February 27, 2008, it is our understanding that the City’s request is to be addressed as a one-off request. However, as CLC is only one member of the consultation committee and that committee has not yet met, it would not be our place to offer assurances of whether the City’s request lies outside the consultation committee’s mandate or whether the City’s request will have an impact on the larger consultation process.

At the meeting of February 27, 2008, we both heard the City indicate that if a temporary concert venue were developed on the site, the property would be restored to its pre-concert condition. If this initiative moves forward, CLC will be seeking assurances from the City that this will be case.

CLC wants to support economic development, tourism and cultural initiatives in Charlottetown. Given the history of public interest in the Upton Farm lands, I’m sure you’ll understand why CLC wanted to make sure that the City’s request for a concert venue on the Upton lands has the support of the parties who have agreed to participate in a consultation process about the site’s future.

We hope that this response has been helpful and that it assists you in replying to the request the City has made from your group.

We look forward to our future discussions with you as members of the consultation committee.

Yours sincerely,

CANADA LANDS COMPANY CLC LIMITED

Ron Pachal
General Manager, Real Estate, Atlantic

c.c. Mayor Clifford Lee, City of Charlottetown