By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Snuneymuxw joins call for new management of Nanaimo’s harbour

Apr 8, 2017 | 3:00 PM

NANAIMO — Snuneymuxw First Nation (SFN) added their name to a growing list of local organizations that want to see the Nanaimo Port Authority’s (NPA) management of the city’s harbour come to an end.

Earlier this week, Snuneymuxw Council unanimously passed a motion to join Nanaimo Council and the Nanaimo Marina Association, according to a Friday news release.

The announcement comes four days after Nanaimo councillors passed a motion agreeing to explore the formation of a society to replace the NPA and create a new design for management of the Newcastle Channel, inner harbour and Duke Point industrial area.

The waters are of “critical importance” to Snuneymuxw and are treaty-protected, the release said. “Snuneymuxw has been largely excluded from decision making and benefits of the harbour.”

Chief John Wesley said SFN is looking for a new, respectful approach to governance.

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In September, Marina Association president Odai Sirri went public with his campaign to unseat the NPA, crying foul over lease rates he claimed had shot up over 125 per cent since 2012.

“All industries that do business on the harbour are united in this approach with this (non-profit society) model,” Sirri said Monday at a City Council meeting.

NPA president Bernie Dumas pledged to work with marina operators on a fair lease rate structure, originally stating his hands were tied by the federal government.

However, a subsequent email from Transport Canada said ports have the flexibility to determine “reasonable” local lease rates on their own, as long as they are not below fair market value.

Meanwhile, Nanaimo’s deputy chief administrative officer hesitated to wade into the dispute.

“The City has been asked to take a position, but it’s a position of ignorance from staff’s perspective,” Victor Mema said Monday, adding staff is challenged by the complex file.

Ultimately, the Transport Minister is solely responsible for issuing authority to manage a port in Canada, Transport Canada said.

island-news@jpbg.ca

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