The Icelandic Canadian - 01.03.1974, Blaðsíða 29

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
27
JOHN S. WALKER:
PART III
ffecla Island Expropriation Inquiry
(Conclusion)
□ PINION DN THE QUESTIONS IN ISSUE
On the question of whether the intend-
ed Expropriaition is reasonably neces-
Objectives of the Expropriating
Authority
At the time of this hearing, the
Government owned, by far, the vast
majority of land on the Island except
for a few relatively small holdings.
This hearing was complex and in-
volved difficult decisions, but none
as difficult as the conflict between
the various cottage owners and the
Government over the future of the
Gull Harbour.
AS TO THE COTTAGERS
The Parks Branch has planned an
intensive use of the beach area in Gull
Harbour. It has plans under way for
the construction of numerous large
parking lots, comfort stations with
sewage facilities, and a program has
been commenced to clear the waters
in the lagoon to make them more suit-
able for swimming. The only thing
that is missing in this extensive pro-
gram which is underway is the actual
beachfront land itself.
Unfortunately, this beachfront land
is owned by individual cottage owners.
The Gull Harbour cottagers pointed
out other beaches that were available
on the Island and argue that it was
not “reasonably necessary’’ that the
Government take theirs.
The question for me to decide is a
concise one. Is the intended expropri-
ation reasonably necessary for the
achievement of the objectives of ex-
propriating authority?
The beach facilities under construc-
tion are obviously useless without a
beach. The Government showed that
it was now locked into its development
program at Gull Harbour and that
considerable public monies have al-
ready been spent. For this reason I
conclude that an expropriation of
land in the Gull Harbour area is
reasonably necessary.
When, in this report, I conclude
that the intended land is reasonably
necessary for the achievement of the
expropriating authority, it is for these
stated reasons.
The argument was made that private
land left in a park area may become
very valuable due to the increment
that may result from the public ex-
penditure of money all round it.
However, let us carry those thoughts
a step further. Governments are always