Province, Preservation Trust Begin Talks

Senior officials in the Department of Tourism and Culture will begin talks with the Bluenose II Preservation Trust Society in an attempt to resolve intellectual property issues surrounding Bluenose II.

Lawyers for the Preservation Trust wrote to the court today, Sept. 17, to discontinue the injunction application that the Trust launched last month against Tall Ships Art Productions Ltd. The injunction application was scheduled to be heard on Oct. 1.

"This matter isn't over yet -- there are still a number of issues to be resolved," said Rodney MacDonald, Minister of Tourism and Culture. "But I welcome this development. Now that the Preservation Trust has put its legal action on hold, we have an opportunity to try and iron out important issues outside of the courts."

The province and the Preservation Trust have agreed their discussions will have a deadline of Nov. 28.

"We start these discussions on some common ground," said Mr. MacDonald. "We both respect the fact that the Bluenose II is one of Nova Scotia's most recognizable and valuable icons, and that it should be used for the public good. There are a number of issues to work out, but we've put a process in place to explore and, ultimately, I hope, resolve those issues.

"The province is steadfast in its belief that the Bluenose II should be widely and proudly displayed and that it should provide maximum benefit for Nova Scotians," added Mr. MacDonald. "We're committed to protecting that belief, one way or another."

The provincial government has been granted intervenor status in the Preservation Trust's action against Tall Ships Art Productions.

The Bluenose II Preservation Trust is a volunteer, non-profit organization which operates the Bluenose II under contract with the department of Tourism and Culture.