wannabe's to just people climbing up the political pole.

Don't be surprised, when you look into their histories, to

see that all the committee and political pals cross paths. Try

to get any of them to deal with this and they all seem to

follow the groove. I tried contacting these people and yet

here we are...

They plan to grow the marine industry but, with anti-

competition behaviour, they will only grow. "THE

DOMINANT CONTROLLER!"

What next? A fee to sail your boat in the harbour area?

You'll have to pay, let's see, they set the rate of slips, ramps

and what else? Any time a government office can allow

users' fees, it allows for corruption at the lower levels. As

the organization grows, there is more danger of it getting

out of control. Let's not forget, as tax payers, that it's our

lands and they should answer to US!

After reading the response by Mr. Robson I can see why he is

the CEO, In fact, I can see him having a future in politics. When

I met Mr. Robson for the first time he appeared to be well

educated and comfortable in his position at the port. The

meeting carried an aroma of arrogance on behalf of the port.

You have the CEO and their lawyer and the marina manager all

saying the same thing, "We don't like you and you don't like

us, so stay out." As with so many captains in the past,

arrogance has a way of catching up. Look at the "Titanic" or at

the skipper of the sail boat in "Perfect Storm. "He sailed those

waters for thirty years, but the fool left all sails up!!!

Thirty years ago that type of behaviour was tolerated in the

port since no one stood up to it for fears of some type of

retaliation. The ruling of our waterways with this arrogance

is going to come to an end, perhaps not today but some time

soon. Mr. Robson have you got your life jacket on? Make

sure it's an approved PFD

Keith Robson writes "with the City but they have final

say." It's too bad people can't be fired for misleading the

general public. Imagine the unemployed politicians!

From the contract lease between the City and the port,

under the "Non-Competition clause," I quote "The

Landlord (city) agrees that it will not operate (or permit any

tenant to operate), on any lands transferred by the Tenant

(the port) to landlord under the settlement agreement, any

marina or sailing school operation that "COMPETE" with the

tenants operation at the demised Premise." A further clause

spells out what the port has to offer on their lands, etc..

Now a strong supporter of fights against the port, "Chad

Collins" a councillor for Hamilton, tells me that once the

lease expires the city takes over control of all assets at the

marina, including the marina itself.

However he can't confirm that there will be a marina. He

hopes there will be with the city of Hamilton doing a study of

the area called "Setting Sail" Those watching this think it's a

matter of money. Will the city invest millions into a new

marina when the port is trying to do so at the other end of the

harbour? Being a taxpayer, I'd feel rather upset knowing the

city closed the marina only to develop those lands and then

put another marina there. And at what cost? Let's not forget

who will compete with that marina for slips? Or will it be a cozy

agreement on price fixing the slips?

One only has to look around the bay over the years to see

that as port rates went up others followed. The port says its

fees are fair and went up more than marginally only when the

city took over. I guess they forgot they raised rates and cut

away a winter storage credit for boaters. So, in fact, the City will

have the final say, but for the next II years oftheir domain

there will be no competition!! Sorry Mr. Robinson you are right

on the issue of final say. . . but wrong in every other way!!

I have an email suggesting that I get to the point. It's time for

all boaters, or Canadians, to voice their concerns. We need to

have a formal investigation into the conduct of ports, set up a

safety net that will protect individual and private sector

interests and make organizations accountable to it.. We would

be foolish as absentee landlords to allow these people to

continue ruling waterway domains.

For as many years as I, and my father before me, could

remember, there has been no marine industry growth in

Hamilton port.. One doesn't need to look too far ITom this

article to see why! Hamilton's doors are closed to ITee

enterprise! !

Is the Minister listening?

I urge all to sign comments on our online petition

Randy Desnoyers

www.yachtware.net

March

9