Mr. Alghabra, tear down this fence: N.L. premier asks Ottawa to open up St. John's harbour

The harbour fence in St. John's has been a subject of fierce controversy and public outcry since it was first erected nearly a decade ago by the St. John's Port Authority.

At the time, the fence became a source of debate, protest and a social media campaign to prevent it.

"Is there anything to like about the fence?" Premier Andrew Furey asked with a laugh during an interview with CBC Radio's On The Go. 

"It prevents access. … It prevents economic development in St. John's. People come to Newfoundland and Labrador because of our coastline and the beauty of it, and want access to it."

That's why Furey wrote a letter to Omar Alghabra, the federal minister of transport, to ask if anything can be done about the fence.

An access to information request from CBC News revealed that Furey wrote the letter last summer and received a response from Alghabra in October. Alghabra said the St. John's Port Authority is the entity which designed and currently controls the fence and suggested they should be the ones to start the conversation on any changes.

Furey didn't interpret Alghabra's letter as a rejection

"He doesn't exclude that conversation," Furey said. "I think there's an appetite on his part to certainly consider different options." 

Furey said the fence situation is worth revisiting to "see if there was an appetite" to reconsider its purpose for the balance of security, industry and pedestrian access. He said the waterfront is a great tourism opportunity for residents and visitors alike. 

Though the stated purpose of the fence is to enhance security, Furey said that doesn't make sense when you consider other notable harbours in the world. 

"You look at Halifax, who for example has done a remarkable job with respect to pedestrian access to their harbourfront, yet they still have the industrial and security challenges that would exist in St. John's," he said.

"How about New York City for that matter. You can walk around great parts of New York City's harbourfront while still, of course, they take security very seriously there as well."

Furey said there are other ways to offer security while still offering access to the harbourfront.

"I'd like to see portions, if not the entire fence, taken down," Furey said.