LUNENBURG - For what seems like an eternity, Lunenburg Mayor Laurence Mawhinney has been telling anyone who will listen that the federal government is not living up to its duties of providing financial support for the town UNESCO World Heritage Site designation.

 Last week, he finally got a chance to take his plea to the top of Canada's political food chain when Prime Minister Stephen Harper visited Lunenburg to help kick off the restoration of Bluenose II.

 Mayor Mawhinney accepted a late invitation to have lunch with the prime minister and, in the process, outlined his position on the federal government's lack of financial support in the form of a letter to the country's top politico.

 In that document, the mayor suggested that Lunenburg requires a more "active and involved federal presence" in fulfilling the obligations which Canada has agreed to under the terms of the UNESCO convention, "which clearly states that there is a shared responsibility for the maintenance of these unique heritage sites."

 The mayor pointed out that apart from Canada Post, Lunenburg has no federal presence whatsoever within its boundaries and stated he believes it should not be left up to the town's 2,300 residents to take sole responsibility for the interpretation of one of Canada's world heritage properties.

 He said town officials are willing and able to work with the appropriate government departments and agencies to address the issue.

 "There is a specific need for an interpretation centre for this site," the mayor wrote. "We have the Lunenburg Academy ... which could fulfill this role when its life as an active school concludes at the end of 2011."

 He also suggested there is a need for a federal presence on the town's waterfront, as well, "to help us maintain a working waterfront and carry on the trades which now are being used to restore Bluenose II.

 "There are other ways in which we feel the federal government should be involved," he wrote. "Therefore, we would like to open that dialogue so that the next time you have occasion to come to Lunenburg, for the re-commissioning of Bluenose II, we will have more to be proud of, as Canadians, when we speak about this heritage community and the role that each order of government plays in maintaining this world heritage site."

 Prime Minister Harper addressed the matter during a question and answer session held following his address at the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic.

 "First I think it is important to say that Lunenburg has benefited quite generously from the government's economic action plan," he said in response to a question on the issue. "I can certainly share with you a list, quite an extensive list, of projects that have been funded during this period."

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 Mr. Harper said he is aware of Lunenburg's heritage site designation and also "of some of the additional demands that may come forward that Mayor Mawhinney familiarized me with.

 "I know there will be some interesting discussions in the times to come."

posted on 08/24/10