Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons condemned "disrespectful words and actions" from the public during the shíshálh swiya Dock Management Plan (DMP) consultation period in a statement released Thursday afternoon.
Simons' comment comes following shíshálh Nation's own statement Jan. 19 calling out “misleading, inflammatory, and disrespectful," social media posts, as well as the defacement of a long house in the Garden Bay area.
"We are disappointed, reject these posts, and denounce the inflammatory and disrespectful comments and defacement of shíshálh’s longhouse in the strongest terms,” lhe hiwus yalxwemult (Chief Lenora Joe) said in the original statement.
Said Simons' statement, "I concur with lhe híwus that these words and actions are unacceptable, and I condemn them in strong terms."
The DMP's objective is to "protect and restore the environment while allowing for thoughtful and focused dock development," lhe hiwus yalxwemult said in her statement. "The plan arises from the fact that huge damage has been done to cultural resources, fisheries, and the environment throughout shíshálh swiya by hundreds of docks. The plan was developed over a decade based on existing standards, advice from third party experts, and our knowledge keepers. We have been implementing the plan for some time and we know it works. The plan is one measure to begin to decrease the impact of docks on the precious resources we all hold dear, resources that future generations will rely upon.”
The Nation said it would be reaching out to the province to coordinate a response.
Simons said he has received a "considerable amount of correspondence" about the DMP amendment proposal, which was released in late November and for which the public comment period closes Feb. 16 following a couple of extensions. "The vast majority of people who have contacted me have been reasoned and thoughtful, so I hope the comments received through this consultation period are too," he added.
Simons' statement said that he has been speaking with provincial ministers and senior officials, as well as shíshálh Nation and local government, "ensuring that they are fully aware of the importance of having a Dock Management Plan that meets the shared goals of the shíshálh Nation and the Province, and the importance of moderating the discussions so that concerns and suggestions can be shared, considered and addressed."
Once the consultation period ends and following deliberations, a document summarizing submissions will be shared online, said Simons' statement.
