Wilmot council discusses Prime Minister statues, Schneider family land donation at meeting
The Township of Wilmot is continuing to discuss what to do with their statues of Prime Ministers and how to handle the Schneider family land donation dispute.
Council was presented with a report from staff on a permanent plan for the halted Prime Ministers' Path project during a Monday night meeting.
In the report was how much it has cost the township to keep the statutes in storage.
"The cost of this storage is $661 a month and we've spent about $23,000 in between 2020 and 2024," said Sharon Chambers, CAO of the Township of Wilmot.
The statues have been in storage at an undisclosed location ever since the Prime Ministers' Path project was cancelled by council in 2021.
Before this decision, the Sir John A. Macdonald statue was repeatedly vandalized, as members of the public voiced their concern about the historical ties to residential schools.
In January of this year, council decided to reconsider the project.
"We are aware the storage costs are concerning, but what will be the financial and social cost of not listening to the opinion of those with different opinions and histories as ourselves?" a delegate said.
Council says they will look into other storage locations on municipal property, but also would like a report that looks into the establishment of a working group, or explore alternative approaches of community engagement.
They voted to continue the conversation around the project at their March 25 meeting.
SCHNEIDER FAMILY LAND DONATION
Wilmot council says they are working with the transportation team at the City of Waterloo to work on an agreement regarding the Schneider family land donation.
Since 2020, the Schneiders have been trying to donate over 230 acres of land in Wilmot Township that borders Waterloo.
The deal hit a snag when the township decided in order for the donation to go through, the property would need a parking lot and it would need to be paid for by Rare or the Schneiders.
Council says a report is being developed that will be made public on Feb. 28. It will be up for consideration at the March 4 council meeting.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6978604.1721996942!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Paris Olympics begin with unique opening ceremony along the Seine
The Paris Summer Olympics officially get underway today with a unique opening ceremony. Instead of marching into a stadium, representatives from more than 200 competing countries will enter the Games on boats along the River Seine.
BREAKING Canada Soccer head investigating 'systemic ethical shortcoming' amid spying scandal
Canada Soccer chief executive officer Kevin Blue said he was investigating a potential 'systemic ethical shortcoming' within the program but has not considered pulling the women's soccer team from the Paris Olympics due to a drone spying scandal.
'She led it the whole way': 18-year-old B.C. woman leads hikers to safety in Jasper National Park
As fire threatened people in Jasper National Park, Colleen Knull sprung into action.
DEVELOPING Trudeau, with Australian and New Zealand PMs, pen letter renewing ceasefire calls for Gaza
Prime ministers of Canada, New Zealand and Australia released a letter renewing calls for an “urgent ceasefire” in Gaza on Friday morning.
Arson attacks paralyze French high-speed rail network hours before start of Olympics
Outgoing French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said that sabotage and arson that hit key parts of France's high speed rail network on the eve of the Olympics had 'a clear objective: blocking the high speed train network.'
Latest updates on wildfires in Jasper National Park: Rain, cooler weather limiting spread
Cool and wet weather is making a difference in Jasper National Park.
'He was just gone': Police ramp up search for vulnerable 3-year-old boy in Mississauga, Ont.
Police in Mississauga are conducting a full-scale search of the city’s biggest park for a non-verbal toddler who went missing Thursday evening. Sgt. Jennifer Trimble told reporters Friday morning that there has been no trace of three-year-old Zaid Abdullah since 6:20 p.m., when he was last seen with his parents in Erindale Park, near Dundas Street West and Mississauga Road.
Sunken treasure: Is the champagne nestled in a 19th-century shipwreck still fit for a toast?
A team of Polish divers has discovered the wreckage of an old sailing ship loaded “to the brim” with luxury goods including porcelain items and about 100 bottles of Champagne and mineral water about 58 meters (190 feet) deep off the Swedish coast.
opinion 'Deadpool and Wolverine' review: A love letter to a bygone era
'Deadpool and Wolverine' is a showcase for the bromance stylings of its stars, who pull out all the stops to cap Fox's Marvel movies.