emailHistory
Overview
The Southern Gulf Islands Harbours Commission was formed in 1998. The initial stages of acquiring docks by local governments or authorities began in 1995 when the Federal Minister of Transport announced his Government’s intention to divest a number of harbour facilities owned and operated by the Department of Transport and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. By nature of a referendum in September 1998, the Southern Gulf Island Electoral Area voters accepted a number of docks under this divestiture program. This referendum, based under Bylaw 2614, authorized the Capital Regional District to establish a local service to establish and operate small craft harbour facilities on the Southern Gulf Islands. At this time the CRD also adopted Bylaw 2651, which authorized the formation of the Southern Gulf Islands Harbours Commission.
Operations
The Commission, using the powers delegated by the CRD Board of Directors, is responsible for directing the planning, acquisition, development, restructuring, operation and maintenance of the divested ports. Subsequently in 2002, the CRD adopted Bylaw 2972, which authorized the ‘Continuation of a Harbour Commission for the Southern Gulf Islands Electoral Area.’ This bylaw outlines the appointment process for Commission members, and solidified the procedures and duties under which this Commission operates.
Each divested dock was accompanied by funds from the Federal Government for use in offsetting some of the divestiture costs and to bring each dock up to a safe and useable standard. By 2006, funds in the amount of $1,740,300 were received, and as of year-end 2005, $1,137,936 was spent in the process of acquiring and upgrading the nine docks.
© Image courtesy of Taz Sporkist