Letter to Minister Garneau re Interim Protocol Southern BC Anchorages

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200 - 1627 Fort St., 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 
 
 
Bowen  Denman  Hornby  Gabriola Galiano  Gambier  Lasqueti  Mayne  North Pender  Salt Spring  Saturna  South Pender  Thetis 
September 13, 2018 
 
via e-mail: mintc@tc.gc.ca 
 
File Number: 5450-30 
 
The Honourable Marc Garneau, MP 
Minister of Transport Canada 
330 Sparks Street 
Ottawa ON K1A 0N5  
 
Dear Minister Garneau: 
 
Re: Concerns re Interim Protocol for the Use of Southern B.C. Anchorages – communications and processes 
 
I am writing to draw your attention to concerns with communications and processes related to the Interim 
Protocol for the Use of Southern B.C. Anchorages. We are hearing strong and continuing concerns from 
residents about Transport Canada’s lack of community engagement and consultation related to the 
implementation and extension of the Interim Protocol and ask that Transport Canada review ways to 
enhance engagement methods and staffing levels to address concerns.   
 
Islands Trust Area residents that are experiencing discomfort due to the light and noise pollution emanating 
from vessels are not feeling heard or even acknowledged when advising the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority 
Operations Centre and/or Transport Canada. Residents are also expressing frustration that their e-mails to 
Transport Canada staff and the TC.PacificAnchorages-Ancragesdupacifique.TC@tc.gc.ca about the protocol or 
noise and light complaints are not being answered. Some community members have found more satisfactory 
responses by communicating directly with the ships’ agents. Those complaints and remedial actions may not 
be captured in Transport Canada’s reporting. We appreciate that the monthly reports are a transparent 
method of communicating but they are not a timely way of reporting. 
 
Further, residents are expressing dismay at the lack of consultation by Transport Canada in general with the 
Salish Sea community on the topic of anchorages and specifically the Interim Protocol. We are aware that 
Transport Canada is working closely with its partners in the Protocol, the Vancouver Fraser and Nanaimo port 
authorities, the Pacific Pilotage Authority, the Chamber of Shipping of British Columbia, and the Shipping 
Federation of Canada. We believe that there is a need for more dialogue on this topic with stakeholders in 
the Salish Sea in a location on Vancouver Island.  
 
To that end, we are preparing to assist by hosting an invite-only roundtable in October or November for 
community groups, First Nations, industry and government representatives to promote dialogue and problem 
solving on Southern Gulf Island anchorages. We will be issuing invitations soon. We expect that topics of 
conversation will include, among other topics: 
 
 Communication processes; 
 Noise, light, and air q

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