Editor's note: This is a copy of a letter to Squamish's mayor and council. It was forwarded to The Chief for publication.
Thank you for responding to my concerns about pollution, both visual and olfactory, in the Mamquam Blind Channel area. It appears that cooler weather, and possibly the recent publicity, have caused the floating shantytown to generate less pollution. A few pink salmon and some large jellyfish were sighted this past month. Hopefully this trend will continue.
The main concern now becomes the likely cost to our community of removing vessels after they become derelict or abandoned. The four vessels on the Mireau waterfront (D7056) and the 21 on the Waterfront Landing property (DL6954) are the responsibility of the respective property owners and/or water lot leasee. The three vessels at anchor in the navigation channel should be under the watchful eye of the local authority. In all cases, it must be made clear that the cost of removal is the sole responsibility of the vessel owner and/or the waterfront leasee.
I agree that the overlapping jurisdictions have made enforcement difficult and seemingly impossible, to the extent that our floating shantytown continues to grow. I do not agree that we must wait for coordination with remote agencies who have priorities that differ with ours. The problem will only get worse over time. A first step would be to list all the vessels and obtain owners' names, addresses and insurance data. The collection of this data could be done quickly and I would gladly assist any municipal staff. Of more importance is our municipal policy for the near future. With the likely increase in commercial shipping and recreational boating due to Woodfibre LNG, SODC cruise ships, fast ferry and more marinas, local coordination will become mandatory. I believe the best solution may be to have Squamish reinstated as a "proclaimed" port, which it enjoyed until 1999. This would give the municpal harbour commission, to be established by local bylaw, the necessary rules and regulations for the proper control of our waterfront. This waterfront extends north from 49 degrees, 33.35 minutes North latitude to the Squamish River estuary. The rules and regulations are promulgated in the Canada Marine Act (SOR 1998), Port Management Regulations (SOR 99-101) and Port Operating Regulations (SOR 2000). These rules currently regulate many small ports in Canada -for example, Port Alberni, which have comparable port usage as Squamish.
We need to be proactive if we are to have local authority over our waterfront. Please let me know if I can be of assistance.
Jim Gracie
Squamish
