As the Jan. 12 end to the comment period on the shíshálh Nation’s proposed swiya-wide dock management plan (DMP) looms, a time frame extension is “in discussion” at the province’s staff level.
On Jan. 8, a Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship spokesperson told Coast Reporter by email that a written request from the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) board to extend the comment period was being reviewed with the Nation. The letter was received Dec. 21.
“Should the public comment period close on Jan. 12, the Province and shíshálh will jointly review, assess and consider comments to determine next steps regarding implementation of any proposed amendments to the shíshálh swiya Dock Management Plan," the email stated. No details on how any adjustment to the proposal would be considered or the timing for implementation were provided.
A Jan 9 email response to Coast Reporter from the Nation stated it was "not commenting on the dock management plan".
Info sharing process
Asked about efforts to reach out to those impacted by the proposed changes, the Ministry wrote, “Commercial moorage tenure holders and applicants have the opportunity to engage in virtual sessions Jan. 8, Jan. 9 and Jan.10. The sessions will contain a presentation from the Province and shíshálh, followed by a facilitated discussion and an opportunity for feedback regarding the proposed amendments."
The Ministry also stated that discussions with the Pender Harbour and Area Residents Association were being conducted “as a continuance of the long-standing history of engagement on the Dock Management Plan."
The SCRD board first called for more DMP comment time at its Nov. 30 meeting, at which representatives of the province and the Nation presented an overview of the DMP application. That event saw more than 300 public attendees (in person and online) make multiple calls for wider consultation and review of new regulations that would further limit dock sizes and eventually ban boat houses on private tenures in SCRD areas which form part of the Nation’s traditional territory. Another potential change that raised concerns was including freshwater moorage infrastructure in the new rules.
'Many' responses received
No details of the volume of input that has come in on the matter were provided by the province but the email indicated “many” responses had been received by the first week of January. The public opportunity to provide input and view background documents on the application opened Nov. 24.
Community-based organizations including the residents association, the Pender Harbour Chamber of Commerce of Commerce and a recently formed Waterfront Protection Coalition recently released social media posts supporting extended and expanded DMP consultations.
