Prime Ministers Path: Possible new location, no more township money

The future of the controversial Prime Ministers Path in Wilmot Township is coming a little more into focus, with six recommendations from a consultants group.

A report to council highlights a need to consider locations other than the original site at Castle Kilbride in Baden, where the township office is located.

The report from LURA Consulting said, “some view Castle Kilbride as a natural fit; others feel placing the statues there would repeat past harms. The community made clear that any future location must be thoughtfully considered, with consent and intentionality.”

Also, that “the Working Group acknowledges the voices that have shared that there is harm in a public display of the statues, and on that site.”

The report also called for work to “identify and examine the possibility of other sites for the project – both indoor and outdoor.”

As for paying for the display of statues, the report said, “No capital funding for the continuation of the project should come from township operating budgets….external funding should be pursued.”

The report also explores the need to develop the path with full consultation with the Indigenous community, which includes the need to “acknowledge the project’s colonial roots and past harms as part of the display.”

Wilmot Township Mayor, Natasha Salonen spoke to 570 News Radio and was asked if given the current state of the township’s finances, is this project worth perusing at this time.

“I think that’s the crux of what council will have to be deliberating in June, is really figuring out what the next steps and what makes sense with the context of both the project but also the wider context in which this also exist both for our corporation and for our community.”

The report comes up at Wilmot Township council in its May 12 meeting. The consultant group will then hold a few more days of consultation before the committee of the whole begins final debates on June 2.