Canadaville - philanthropy, public relations, or undermining US patriotism?

Stronach’s U.S.-based Canadaville ready for business
Last Updated Fri, 16 Dec 2005 13:40:19 EST
CBC News
A tiny taste of Canada will come to life in the heart of Louisiana’s bayou when a controversial housing project built by a Canadian billionaire for victims of hurricane Katrina officially opens on Saturday.

Each with tiny yards and covered porches, brand new mobile homes sit in neat rows in auto-parts giant Frank Stronach’s Canadaville.

One of the finished homes in Canadaville. 
The Magna International chairman decided to build the community after seeing hurricane victims in the flooded streets of New Orleans in August.

Stronach, who will attend the opening ceremonies, first flew dozens of people to Florida to live in his posh horse-training facility.

He then built them homes – filled with furniture and appliances – on 325 hectares of farmland he had purchased on the outskirts of Simmesport, a town about 100 kilometres from Baton Rouge.

Initially home to 110 people, Canadaville’s population could grow to 300. The people who live there get free rent for five years and they’ll try to find jobs in Simmesport or work on an organic farm Stronach plans for Canadaville.

Stronach, 73, has hopes that Magna Organic Farm, which will grow produce and raise chickens, hogs and cattle, will turn a profit within a handful of years.

Stronach will also pay for upgrades to Simmesport’s water, sewage and infrastructure, build a community centre with soccer fields and basketball courts, and pay for three new police officers.

Simmesport Mayor James Fontineau says the town hopes Stronach will build an auto-parts plant in the area, which has high unemployment.

“I’ve been told that in a couple of years, they’re going to try to build an auto-parts plant, but so far no commitment in writing or anything,” he said.

Simmesport uneasy about project

Fontineau downplayed opposition to the project by some of Simmesport’s 2,300 residents. In one incident, a Canadian flag flying next to a U.S. flag was cut down.

Dennis Mills, Stronach spokesperson. 
“Some service people … they just don’t like the Canadian flag and the American flag flying at the same height,” he said.

Local officials hope the newcomers, all subject to background checks, will integrate with Simmesport.

Residents Steve Mayeux and Charles Austin are split on the idea of Canadaville.

Mayeux, an agricultural consultant, says there are unrealistic job expectations. He calls it a “public relations ploy for Frank Stronach and Magna International.”

Stronach spokesperson Dennis Mills acknowledged that the people moving to Canadaville aren’t farmers, but Stronach felt he had to act.

“When people are drowning, you can’t just look the other way,” said Mills.

Canadaville resident Dana Richardson. 
Austin, a photographer, says he was initially opposed to the plan because of reports of violence, drugs and rapes in New Orleans following the hurricane.

“We were definitely afraid of getting those people here.”

But Austin says he changed his mind after meeting some of the people and hearing their stories. “They’re all normal people like us.”

Canadaville resident Dana Richardson, who had to be airlifted from her flooded home in New Orleans, said she hopes to live there with her daughter for as long as she can.

“We have something to call our own again,” said Richardson. “It’s just great to have a new start.”