The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRO) is starting to contact existing dock tenure holders in Pender Harbour after last week’s release of the Pender Harbour Dock Management Plan (DMP).
The plan encourages applicants “to engage with the shíshálh Nation early” and suggests that an “applicant may wish to engage the shíshálh Nation prior to submitting an application.”
Ministry officials told Coast Reporter the application process will remain with FLNRO, which has the duty to formally consult with the shíshálh Nation. “The province will review the application using the current policy for guidance – in this case the dock management plan – and send a summary of the application to First Nations for comment.”
The ministry also said that “the duty to consult rests with the province; there are no fees associated with consultation.”
The DMP working group estimated in 2015 that reports from qualified professionals to support tenure applications could cost between $5,000 and $6,000 – but the figures quoted by the province this week were significantly lower.
“The fee for an archeological study is approximately $500 to $1,000. People have the option of either using shíshálh’s archeologists or can hire a qualified professional of their own choosing,” said the ministry. It added, however: “The environmental survey also depends on a number of factors, so accurate estimates are difficult.”
Docks remain banned in Zone 1, and the province said last week unauthorized docks currently in that zone will have to be removed. The ministry will be doing an assessment and if the dock is found to be contravening provincial acts, the owner will be served with a removal order.
