VESSEL MANAGEMENT CONSULTATION OPEN FOR PUBLIC FEEDBACK!
For years the proliferation of deep-sea vessels using the Southern Gulf Islands as a parking lot has caused environmental and social challenges. We have heard stories of environmental degradation, excessive noise, light and greenhouse gas emissions negatively impacting the Salish Sea.
For years, constituents of Saanich North and the Islands have written my office, Member of Parliament Elizabeth May’s office, and Transport Canada demanding they stop storing vessels in this sensitive ecosystem while they wait an invitation into Vancouver Port.
It has been incredibly difficult to get information from the federal government. Frustration is growing.
In the 2020 provincial election, the BC NDP government committed to working with the federal government to address this issue. They have yet to act in any meaningful way.
For the month of November, the Active Vessel Management Program team is receiving feedback.
They are hosting an open house on Pender Island on Tuesday, November 15, 2022. If you cannot make it to the in-person event on Pender you can join an online session on November 22, 2022.
I would like to see the BC and the federal Canadian governments meaningfully address the issue of deep-sea vessels using the Southern Gulf Islands as a parking lot while they wait for an invitation into the Port of Vancouver. The current situation is causing environmental degradation, excessive noise, light and greenhouse gas emissions negatively impacting the Salish Sea. This can be and needs to be addressed, and the sooner the better.
Both the BC govt & the federal government must come together to address the issue of deep sea vessels backing up & waiting their time to enter Port of Vancouver while in the Salish sea in the Southern Gulf Islands. In addition to excessive noise,light & green house gas emissions ,there is environmental degradation & possible effect on marine wildlife. All of these effects are negatively impacting the Salish Sea. Please address these issues as you are the representatives for the Canadian citizens.
Sincerely, Brenda Caldwell ( a concerned citizen)
Dear Adam,
Thank you for Advocating on behalf of the Residents and Guests of the Gulf Islands for a resolve on this issue.
Best Regards, David.
Salt Spring Island, BC
How are we to get our cell phones, and just about everything else we buy without these ships bringing them all? The backlog isn’t their fault. They await port unloading. As for “unsightly” most visitors I have think seeing actual marine traffic ads to the ocean vista. The solution is to streamline the Port of Vancouver into the 21st century from its current embarassing and disastrous lack of innovation. We are a laughing stock.