Hamilton Marsh Wetlands Acquisition
First, let me state that I am not against the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) acquisition of the Hamilton Marsh Wetlands. However, when the federal government committed to protecting 30% of Canada's Land and Oceans by 2030 I do not believe they envisioned municipalities and regional districts purchasing the lands from private corporations and passing these costs onto homeowners to be paid in after tax dollars.
The RDN news release of September 2, 2025 confirms the RDN and Mosaic Forest Management signed a conditional purchase agreement for some 360 hectares of land with a purchase price of $30 million. The news release indicates two key conditions in the sale agreement:
1) by November 21st 2025 Partnership agreements for funding in place to the RDN Boards satisfaction.
2) By January 30 2026 Confirmation of a minimum of $7.5 million from funding partners and other contributions.
The news release also stated that acquiring the Hamilton Marsh as a conservation site has been a priority of the RDN for many years.
Given that the RDN does not have sufficient money in their regional parks and trails reserve fund, the proposed fundraising goal of $7.5 million leaves a very sizable $22 million gap. I contacted the RDN asking "Why only $7.5 million in fundraising partnerships and whether tax payers would be covering this gap? I got my answer September 9: the $7.5 million fundraising target ( 25% of the purchase price) was set by the RDN board and the remaining purchase price will be funded through reserve contributions and long term debt. The RDN has now updated their project site Q and A page to clarify the funding sources.
Coincidentally, the (RDN) board held a special meeting, also on Sept. 9, and unanimously passed a motion to establish a parkland acquisition loan authorization bylaw that will allow the RDN to acquire a $21,200,000 loan for a term not to exceed 20 years. All electoral areas, along with Qualicum, Parksville, Lantzville and City of Nanaimo will be contributing to the 20 year loan repayment. Apparently no electoral approval (referendum) is necessary.
While it is admirable to protect this type of land, I question why the RDN would choose to use debt (to be repaid by property owners) to fund the purchase when many other options are available. For example, The Nature Conservancy of Canada, which according to charity data is sitting on significant available cash and investment funds in the range of $400 million, and whose mandate is a good fit with the goal of protecting this land. Others include the Nature Trust of BC, Ducks Unlimited Canada and numerous more organizations across the country that collect donations from the private sector and other levels of government to support environmental protection.
Long term debt is an easy solution particularly when prior voter approval is not required. This approach is simply not sustainable as taxpayers have limited funds. The RDN financial plan summary shows $12.6 million in new debt for regional parks in 2024 and a further $35.6 million planned for 2025.
We not only pay to acquire these lands but also to maintain them. The 2025 RDN regional parks operating expenses budget is $4.5 million for the year, up from $4 million for the previous year. Capital asset expenditures are budgeted at just under $40 million in addition to last year's capital expenditures of almost $18 million.
Further, if the RDN is relying on tax payer funding it has a duty to ensure the amount paid is appropriate. The public has been given no information to support the $30 million dollar price tag. Presumably, the marsh land is worth little given that it cannot be developed so value is derived by the value of removing some of the timber. Where is the independent valuation of this land and, if it was done, why are the documents not being shared with the public?
As an aside, had Mosaic donated the land to the RDN through conservation programs such as the Canada Ecological Gifts Program it would have received significant tax benefits. This process also requires an appraisal. According to the program's website, over the last 10 years almost 2000 individuals and corporations have donated ecological gifts with a combined value at over $1 billion dollars. Clearly the federal program is successful and has a formula that works for properties that meet the ecological criteria.
Where is the consultation with our First Nations? They too have access to various funding options to protect this land and might, in fact, be more effective stewards of the land.
Should all the conditions of the purchase agreement be satisfied and the RDN goes ahead with this purchase, Hamilton Marsh will become the RDN's thirteenth regional park and conservation area and will add 360 hectares to the over 2814 hectares of land already held within the other 12 regional and 216 community parks in the RDN. The RDN also has 78 km of trails in 10 regional trail systems. This does not include the Heritage Forest, Milner Gardens and the park lands within the City of Nanaimo, Lantzville, Parksville, Qualicum Beach which are managed outside of the RDN. For perspective, Stanley Park is is 404 hectares, Butchart Gardens is 53 hectares.
In closing, I see a trend of local land acquisition from private land owners in closed meetings with little to no transparency to validate the cost of these lands. I see a funding model that is unsustainable.
In the mean time, our roads and other infrastructure are crumbling. Our town is heavily reliant on grants to meet long overdue maintenance upgrades, while higher levels of government are struggling with huge deficits and are unable to fund additional heath care facilities to meet current needs. I encourage our readers to review the RDN's Hamilton Marsh Info Page which is being updated daily with answers to residents questions and make their concerns known to both the mayor and the chair of the RDN Board.
Marie Noel,
September 11 2025
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