By Ian Holmes

MP Malcolmson confident progress being made on abandoned vessel issue

Sep 19, 2016 | 9:27 AM

NANAIMO — Local MP Sheila Malcolmson is more optimistic than ever something will finally be done to deal with the abandoned vessel problem.

The Nanaimo-Ladysmith New Democrat MP is scheduled to discuss the longstanding issue with the transportation minister Monday night, as the fall session of parliament kicks off.

Malcolmson says there is positive movement behind the scenes suggesting the government is working toward a solution, noting abandoned vessels are a problem affecting constituents of a number of Liberal MP’s.

“Back in the Spring I got the minister a number of times in the house to say ‘yes they know this is a problem, yes they want to find a solution.’ We had some meetings with their staff (Transport Canada) over the summer and we know that they’ve been doing their work too to find out how they can resource a solution,” says Malcolmson.

Malcolmson has five minutes of dialogue scheduled Monday night in which she hopes to hear a ‘status report’ on how the government is working toward a resolution on the file.

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“On both what I’ve heard over the summer – reaffirming what some of the elements of a permanent coast wide comprehensive solution to abandoned vessels would be.”

Malcolmson has a private members bill scheduled for debate next spring which would make the Coast Guard the sole agency responsible for removing listless boats, as well as provide more funding to allow that to happen.

She’s also advocating for a vessel registration fund, much like what is in place in Washington State, which would pool money together to help absorb high costs of vessel removal, especially larger old fishing boats.

Transport Canada data shows there are an estimated 600 derelict vessels across the country, including dozens on the mid-island, according to Malcolmson.

She says these old boats are navigational hazards, and as well as pose economic and environmental issues. 

Malcolmson adds there are commitments from the Coast Guard to remove the Viki Lynn ll and Laurier ll from Ladysmith Harbour, but it’s unclear exactly when those removals will take place.