The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has extended the deadline for the dredging of Squamish's Mamquam Blind Channel for another 10 months, the area's Member of Parliament said late last week.
Last week, John Weston, Member of Parliament for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country, said he was "90 per cent sure" that the dredging window - which had already been extended once, until the end of February 2011 - would be extended again to give local officials time to find funding for the project, which has an estimated cost of $1 million.
On Friday (Nov. 26), Weston reported that the window had been extended again -this time until Dec. 31, 2011. DFO is responsible for ensuring that such projects are done with minimal impact on the environment, which includes fisheries.
"There are periods within that timeframe that the dredging may be done," Weston told The Chief.
Last week, Dan Veniez, Liberal Party candidate for the riding in the next federal election, called on the Feds to provide the $1 million needed to fund the controversial project, which is favoured by most boaters and opposed by those concerned about its potential to release harmful mercury into area waterways.
Weston, though, said he and other leaders had reviewed the various government programs that might yield results and found that it didn't fit the criteria for funding.
Mayor Greg Gardner last week said that while the District of Squamish supports the project, he believes the federal government and perhaps other agencies should play a role in providing funding.
