By Ian Holmes

Feds have ‘no plan’ to strike down Nanaimo Port Authority

Jun 23, 2017 | 4:53 PM

NANAIMO — Transport Canada has no interest in replacing the Nanaimo Port Authority (NPA) with a non-profit society, says a letter written to the City.

The May 23 letter from Robert Dick, Transport Canada’s regional director of the Pacific Region, was in response to a motion passed by City Council in early April. That motion supported the Greater Nanaimo Waterfront Association’s (GNWA) efforts to form a society to govern Nanaimo’s water lot properties.

“Transport Canada has no plan to alter the current governance structure of the Nanaimo Port Authority,” the letter, addressed to Nanaimo CAO Tracy Samra said.

Mayor Bill McKay acknowledged while there are local concerns about how the NPA is run, he said the best approach based on information he has is to work together under the current governance model and understand everybody’s interests.

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“I think it’s time for all of us to roll up our sleeves and start working together to determine how to best manage this under the current regulatory regime which is a Port Authority under Transport Canada and the Canada Marine Act.”

McKay voted against the original motion to move toward casting the NPA aside. The coun. Bill Bestwick motion was also opposed by councillors Diane Brennan and Ian Thorpe.

Despite the Transport Canada letter, GNWA representative Odai Sirri said the fight to disband the NPA is by no means over.

“Frankly, Mr. Dick’s letter was a non-letter,” Sirri told NanaimoNewsNOW. “It really didn’t make much sense coming from a bureaucrat in Vancouver who is going to tell us what’s going to happen in Nanaimo. As we said earlier this is a long process.”

Sirri went public against the NPA last September with concerns about the impact steep foreshore lease rates increases have on local marinas. Several Newcastle Channel marinas fall under federal jurisdiction and their rental rates are determined by the NPA.

Sirri said there is widespread local support to have the NPA removed. He noted “it takes political pressure from all levels” for a society to assume control of governing Nanaimo’s harbour.

“Currently industry, First Nations and the City of Nanaimo are all working together for a new governance model for Nanaimo’s harbour.”

The Transport Canada letter is slated to be discussed as correspondence at Monday’s Committee of the Whole meeting.

The non-profit NPA is the landlord for the harbour, managing all area activities, which includes two deep sea docks, the cruise ship terminal and several marinas.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes