TC New Brighton Dock Letter to Trevena and Garneau

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Bowen  Denman  Hornby  Gabriola  Galiano Gambier  Lasqueti  Mayne  North Pender  Salt Spring  Saturna  South Pender  Thetis 
  
 
200-1627 Fort Street, Victoria BC  V8R 1H8 
Telephone  (250) 405-5151    Fax  (250) 405-5155 
Toll Free via Enquiry BC in Vancouver 604.660.2421.  Elsewhere in BC 1.800.663.7867 
Email  information@islandstrust.bc.ca 
Web  www.islandstrust.bc.ca 
 
October 2, 2020      File No.: 12-05-6410-03-2020 
 
Via Email:  Minister.Transportation@gov.bc.ca  marc.garneau@parl.gc.ca 
 
The Honourable Claire Trevena 
Minister of Transportation and 
Infrastructure 
PO Box 9850 Stn Prov Govt 
Victoria BC V8W 9T5 
 
The Honourable Marc Garneau 
Minister of Transport 
330 Sparks Street 
Ottawa ON K1A 0N5 
 
Re:  New Brighton dock – Gambier Island, Howe Sound, British Columbia 
 
Dear Minister Trevena and Minister Garneau: 
 
On  behalf  of  Islands  Trust  Council,  I  am  writing  to  request  your  assistance  on an important  matter 
affecting the  Gambier  Island community in the  Islands  Trust  Area.   The  community  located  on  the 
southwest peninsula of Gambier Island, in Howe Sound, is facing the very real prospect of losing its 
primary  port  facility,  the New  Brighton dock.  The  dock  has  provided  critical  public  access  to  the 
community  for  over  a  century. It provides  passenger  ferry  access,  local  moorage,  and  is  the  critical 
remote  access  point  for  basic  services,  including  emergency  services.  The Islands  Trust  Council 
requests your assistance to ensure that this critical public access point is preserved. 
 
The community on Gambier Island’s southwest peninsula has no schools, shops, or medical services.  
Access to these services is by water, via the New Brighton dock.  Originally constructed in 1917, the 
New Brighton dock is the only all-season sheltered port and is the community’s primary access point 
for work, school, supply delivery and emergency services.  It is the only port on the island serviced by 
BC Ferries, designated as route 13. Route 13 is a contracted passenger ferry service, making ten trips 
to  New  Brighton dock daily,  amounting  to  upwards  of  35,000  people  trips  annually.  The  dock  is  a 
deep-water port with a pier structure and floats providing moorage for approximately 22 small boats. 
It is situated within provincial Water Lot 5087 (New Westminster District) and is approached directly 
by a public road maintained by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.  
 
In  2001,  and  then  again  in  2012,  Transport  Canada  contacted  the  Gambier  Island  Community 
Association (“GICA”) and the Sunshine Coast Regional District (“SCRD”) and expressed its intention to 
divest   itself   of   the   New   Brighton   dock.   In   2012,   in   consultation   with   the   GICA,   the   SCRD 
communicated its willingness to Transport Canada to enter into negotiations to transfer the dock to 
the  SCRD.  Transport  Canada  transferred ownership

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