Cowichan-Malahat-Langford MP Alistair MacGregor has introduced a Private MemberB次元官网网址檚 Bill in Ottawa to amend the Canada Shipping Act to prohibit the anchoring of freighter vessels using coastal waters along the Salish Sea.
ItB次元官网网址檚 becoming a long-standing issue particularly for residents of Saltair, Chemainus, Thetis and Penelakut Islands, other Gulf Islands, Cowichan Bay, Ladysmith and Nanaimo.
B次元官网网址淭here have been many years of frustration in trying to address this issue with Transport Canada and Transport Minister Marc Garneau,B次元官网网址� noted MacGregor in a statement. B次元官网网址淒espite these efforts, the number of freighters, and the length of their stay at anchor off the southern coast of Vancouver Island, have both increased. In the absence of leadership from the federal government, I have decided that it is time put forward a bill to try and resolve this issue through legislative means.B次元官网网址�
Some of the parked freighters are as large as 300 metres in size. In addition to the noise and light pollution, there are concerns about the affects to the marine environment.
The bill has support from First Nations, local government and community activist groups.
Repeated calls have been made by community groups and First Nations about protecting clam beds, prawns, oysters and endangered species, such as the southern resident killer whales, from the environmental impact of the anchored shipping vessels.
B次元官网网址淭he short- and long-term cumulative impacts on the marine ecosystems, local socio-economics, and pending disaster occurring while anchored or during transit to and from the Vancouver and Tsawwassen Port systems, need to be addressed,B次元官网网址� stated Doug Fenton of Anchorages Concern Thetis. B次元官网网址淭he Southern Gulf IslandsB次元官网网址� anchorage issues are an outstanding example of past practices going unmanaged and global corporations exploiting an aged marinersB次元官网网址� law for corporate gains.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淔or years, weB次元官网网址檝e been calling on the federal government to work towards eliminating commercial freighters anchoring in the Southern Gulf Islands,B次元官网网址� added Peter Luckham, chair of the Islands Trust Council. B次元官网网址淚t is wholly unacceptable for this region, recognized as having some of the worldB次元官网网址檚 most sensitive ecosystems and many species at risk, to be used industrially as an overflow parking lot for the Port of Vancouver. Coastal communities have watched with dismay as the number of anchored vessels rises year after year while the federal government fails to act.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭he Port of VancouverB次元官网网址檚 inability to schedule and manage incoming bulk cargo ships efficiently is a problem with serious economic and environmental consequences,B次元官网网址� pointed out Christopher Straw of the South Coast Ship Watch Alliance. B次元官网网址淎s that problem increasingly spills over into B.C.B次元官网网址檚 Southern Gulf Islands, it is creating a financial drain on our national economy and threatening the ecological health of one of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 most environmentally rich and important marine ecosystems. ItB次元官网网址檚 time for CanadaB次元官网网址檚 Minister of Transport to bring an end to this problem by directing all parties involved to create a modern, efficient and safe vessel arrival system.B次元官网网址�
Resident concerns have also been abundant, partly due to safety issues. Just last week, Saltair resident Mary Desprez noticed a freighter dragging anchor towards Boulder Point, coming within 730 metres of the shore according to maps from the Port of Nanaimo.
B次元官网网址淐aptains are authorized to move the ships in an emergency B次元官网网址� without a pilot B次元官网网址� so they engaged the engines and repositioned it,B次元官网网址� she explained.
It drifted really close again the next day, Desprez noted.
In February 2018, Transport Canada initiated its Interim Protocol for the Use of Southern B.C. Anchorages. The strategy is widely viewed by locals as a stopgap measure.
B次元官网网址淭he Interim Anchorages Protocol has proven to be totally inadequate in dealing with this problem,B次元官网网址� MacGregor indicated. B次元官网网址淭he voluntary protocol measures installed by Transport Canada have been largely ignored and not enforced. Southern Vancouver Island and Gulf Island residents had hoped for, and deserve, more decisive action from their federal government.B次元官网网址�
Through numerous round table discussions it became evident to MacGregor that First Nations were not consulted when the anchorages were first established.
B次元官网网址淭hese freighters sometimes drag their anchor, disturbing our seabeds and harvesting areas,B次元官网网址� noted Lyackson First Nation Chief Richard Thomas. B次元官网网址淭hey have their lights on all night and make noise. They take away the beauty of our beaches. They harvest illegally and pollute our waters, and their proximity to our reserve lands makes our nation fearful of trespassers. We were never consulted on this and donB次元官网网址檛 support the freighters being in our waters.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淒ialogue with government officials has confirmed that the pumping of ballast tanks, pumping of bilges, dragging of anchors, dumping of garbage and waste, and continuous noise from generators have combined to seriously threaten our livelihoods and traditional ways of life,B次元官网网址� added Chief Joan Brown of Penelakut Tribe. B次元官网网址淭he federal government have the lawful obligation to consult with us prior to permitting freighter parking in our traditional waters. Penelakut Tribe have had absolutely no consultation from the Federal Government.B次元官网网址�
The waters in the southern Salish Sea have been recognized by the federal government as part of its process in establishing a National Marine Conservation Area.
B次元官网网址淚f the federal government values these waters enough to establish a National Marine Conservation Area, then they also deserve protection from being used as an overflow industrial parking lot,B次元官网网址� said MacGregor.
