Mayor’s Monday Mailbag – July 4, 2022 – When will Public Access to Burlington Canal Piers be Restored?

Welcome to the Mayor’s Monday Mailbag, an initiative Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and the Mayor’s Office launched to share weekly answers to questions from the public we’ve received through our main email inbox at mayor@burlington.ca or the Mayor’s social media platforms.At the end of the month, we’ll publish a roundup of those most pressing questions we’ve received in the weeks prior.Mayor’s Monday Mailbag – July 4, 2022QUESTION:“When will public access to the Burlington Canal Piers be restored?”ANSWER:On June 28, Transport Canada announced it is transferring management of the Burlington Canal Piers to the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority on July 2, 2022.Transport Canada has been working closely with the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA), the City of Burlington and the City of Hamilton on the future of the Burlington Canal Piers. In managing the piers, HOPA will carry Transport Canada’s commitment for a marine system that is responsive to the needs of users and our local communities. In a Q-and-A with media after today’s announcement, HOPA noted it will be investing several million dollars in upgrades to make the surface safe, and they are aiming for reopening in spring 2023.This is a great step forward in ensuring public access to the Burlington Canal Piers. Now that HOPA will be assuming management, they will be making safety improvements and ensuring the gates will be back open and public access will be restored.Mayor Meed Ward thanked Minister of Transport, the Hon. Omar Alghabra; Burlington MP and Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, the Hon. Karina Gould; Hamilton Mountain MP Lisa Hepfner; Hamilton East-Stoney Creek MP Chad Collins (and former city councillor for the area); HOPA Ports President Ian Hamilton; City of Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger and City of Burlington Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith for all working together on this, adding:

"This was a true team effort with all of us committed to maintaining public access to these piers. The Burlington Canal Piers are well used in our communities for bird watching, fishing, hiking, cycling — and of course, boating! We are a waterfront community and we want to make sure our community members can access the waterfront in a multitude of ways."

For more details and information, please click here for the news release from Transport Canada or scroll down.

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June 28, 2022 — Burlington, ON — New management of port facilities can help Canada’s ports thrive and create jobs. It can also expand or improve these facilities for new uses that benefit local communities.Today, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, and the Minister of Families, Children, and Social Development, the Honourable Karina Gould, announced that Transport Canada is transferring management of the Burlington Canal Piers to the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority on July 2, 2022.Transport Canada currently manages the Burlington Canal Piers, consisting of the north-east and south piers at the Burlington Canal, which runs along the Lake Ontario shore between Burlington and Hamilton, Ontario.Located at the entry of the Hamilton Harbour, the Piers are an important access point for ships to enter and exit the Port of Hamilton. They are also a popular community site, with connections to the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail, attracting thousands of visitors every year.Transport Canada has been working closely with the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority, the City of Burlington, and the City of Hamilton, on the future of the Burlington Canal Piers.In managing the Burlington Canal Piers, the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority will carry on Transport Canada’s commitment for a marine system that is responsive to both the needs of users and the local community.

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—*Posted by John Bkila, Mayor’s Media and Digital Communications Specialist