NOTE TO EDITORS:

Sandra Kelly, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation (Acting), released today the following letter which was delivered to Mayor Andy Wells in relation to The Rooms development.

Media contact:

Deborah Glassman,
Manager of Communications and Development
Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation
(709) 729-5002
dglassman@mail.gov.nf.ca

_________________________

November 23, 2000

Mayor Andy Wells
City of St. John�s
P.O. Box 908
St. John�s, NF
A1C 5M2

Dear Mayor Wells:

Your November 9, 2000 letter to the Executive Secretary of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board is ill-considered.

The most disturbing part of your letter is the request for the National Historic Sites and Monuments Board to investigate and potentially remove National Historic Site status for Fort Townshend. Your action is disturbing because it displays ignorance of how we are saving and protecting the site. As part of The Rooms project and into the future, never again will the landscape on this site be changed without complete archaeological investigation. Never again will municipal water pipes be installed without permission or supervision by an archaeologist. And for the first time the site will be properly honoured and interpreted for its role in the history of St. John�s and Newfoundland.

Does the City seriously want Fort Townshend to be stripped of its status as a National Historic Site? I think not. Given the province�s clear decision to proceed with The Rooms, your actions can only be described as damaging the province�s reputation. The case you make to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board is one where if you win you lose and if you lose you lose. I fail to see the sense in this strategy. I also fail to understand how you could state to the media your fear of losing National Historic Site status and then ask the board to launch the very review process which you fear.

You also state that "the next time we seek such a designation for any site in this province we will have lost our credibility and likely find it difficult if not impossible to get anything designated." We beg to differ. Our record for preserving sites is second to none, as witnessed by five national designations in the last two years at Battle Harbour, Carbonear, Port Union, Boyd�s Cove and Fleur de Lys.

Your statements are unreasonable when you say that the plans for Fort Townshend "could have detrimental financial implications for future federal funding to other National Historic Sites in the city", including Signal Hill. In reality, federal funds for Signal Hill are secure and the public should not fear any change in federal commitment.

Your statements are misleading and without foundation. I trust that others in the community will not associate themselves with such pointless tactics.

Sincerely yours,

Sandra C. Kelly
Minister (Acting)

2000 11 23 3:50 p.m.