Dock Management working group needs financial support
The DMP working group has decided to engage various professional people to assist us in achieving our goals. To pay for these services we are asking other interested citizens to donate as much more as you feel comfortable donating. Those donating $500 or more will be made aware of details around the amounts expended and summaries of results achieved. Any unused funds raised in this manner will be returned on a prorated basis. The preferred method of donating is to engage directly with a member of the fund-raising committee.
As an interim measure, and on behalf of the working group, the Chamber has agreed to manage the donations required to pay professionals the working group chooses to engage. Please make out your cheque to Pender Harbour & District Chamber of Commerce and give to any member of the working group, or mail to Pender Harbour and District Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 265, Madeira Park, British Columbia V0N 2H0 and note that it is for Dock Management. Please include your contact information and your e mail address so we can provide the information mentioned above.
The DMP working group has decided to engage various professional people to assist us in achieving our goals. To pay for these services we are asking other interested citizens to donate as much more as you feel comfortable donating. Those donating $500 or more will be made aware of details around the amounts expended and summaries of results achieved. Any unused funds raised in this manner will be returned on a prorated basis. The preferred method of donating is to engage directly with a member of the fund-raising committee.
As an interim measure, and on behalf of the working group, the Chamber has agreed to manage the donations required to pay professionals the working group chooses to engage. Please make out your cheque to Pender Harbour & District Chamber of Commerce and give to any member of the working group, or mail to Pender Harbour and District Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 265, Madeira Park, British Columbia V0N 2H0 and note that it is for Dock Management. Please include your contact information and your e mail address so we can provide the information mentioned above.
Backgrounder on the Outstanding Issues
One of Mr. Penner recommendations was:
Recommendation #1
The BC Government should devise and implement a public education strategy to inform the public about the imperative for reconciliation with First Nations, and what this means in practical terms for British Columbians.
This recommendation may technically be out of scope for this report, but for reconciliation to be meaningful and lasting, it must involve more than just agreements and discussions between institutions of government, including First Nations governments. Rather, individual members of both aboriginal and nonaboriginal society need to feel, and be, included in reconciliation in order to reduce and prevent social divisions. The problems identified in my Findings #1 and #2 led me to arrive at this recommendation.
Our comments:
We have not been provided with a schedule for the government to achieve this goal and based on the importance Mr. Penner placed on this we have been looking for more information on the why and what is it. We have found three documents that attempt to answer the questions and offer them to you as we think they are the beginnings of being able to understand not only the challenges around Dock Management but many other issues currently in the news.
The first is probably the best. Ignore the title as it definitely has a lot to do with B.C. and our future
Addressing Aboriginal Land and Treaty Rights in Ontario:
An Analysis of Past Policies and Options for the Future
The other two are full of valuable information
Resolving Aboriginal Claims
A Practical guide to Canadian Experiences
Renewing the Comprehensive Land Claims Policy:
Towards a Framework for Addressing Section 35 Aboriginal Rights
One of Mr. Penner recommendations was:
Recommendation #1
The BC Government should devise and implement a public education strategy to inform the public about the imperative for reconciliation with First Nations, and what this means in practical terms for British Columbians.
This recommendation may technically be out of scope for this report, but for reconciliation to be meaningful and lasting, it must involve more than just agreements and discussions between institutions of government, including First Nations governments. Rather, individual members of both aboriginal and nonaboriginal society need to feel, and be, included in reconciliation in order to reduce and prevent social divisions. The problems identified in my Findings #1 and #2 led me to arrive at this recommendation.
Our comments:
We have not been provided with a schedule for the government to achieve this goal and based on the importance Mr. Penner placed on this we have been looking for more information on the why and what is it. We have found three documents that attempt to answer the questions and offer them to you as we think they are the beginnings of being able to understand not only the challenges around Dock Management but many other issues currently in the news.
The first is probably the best. Ignore the title as it definitely has a lot to do with B.C. and our future
Addressing Aboriginal Land and Treaty Rights in Ontario:
An Analysis of Past Policies and Options for the Future
The other two are full of valuable information
Resolving Aboriginal Claims
A Practical guide to Canadian Experiences
Renewing the Comprehensive Land Claims Policy:
Towards a Framework for Addressing Section 35 Aboriginal Rights
Reconciliation with Sechelt Band
July 22, 2016
What follows, is excerpted from the BC Government's most recent media release. What this means for Pender Harbour is still not clear. The Dock Management Plan Working Group will be meeting continue to discuss this issue.
As part of its reconciliation process with The shíshálh (Sechelt) Nation, the Province of British Columbia has announced the following provisions with regard to the issues raised over the past two years regarding the Draft Dock Management Plan:
To obtain a copy of the BC Government's Information Bulletin click HERE
For media coverage on this issue, click HERE
July 22, 2016
What follows, is excerpted from the BC Government's most recent media release. What this means for Pender Harbour is still not clear. The Dock Management Plan Working Group will be meeting continue to discuss this issue.
As part of its reconciliation process with The shíshálh (Sechelt) Nation, the Province of British Columbia has announced the following provisions with regard to the issues raised over the past two years regarding the Draft Dock Management Plan:
- ~“Release” means the release of claims with respect to the existing tenured docks in Pender Harbour;
- ~“Shared Decision Making Agreement” means the shared decision agreement to be reached between the Parties relating to dock management in Pender Harbour;
- ~[The purposes of this Agreement are: …… to confirm the actions the Parties will take to address particular outstanding matters between them, specifically regarding: } development in and around Pender Harbour, including through the Dock Management Plan, Shared Decision Making Agreement, Release and Penner Report;
- ~[The Province has identified the following interests:] ….(vi) long term stability and predictability for use and development in and around Pender Harbour and the Territory;
- ~[Phase 1. The Parties intend to take the following steps in Phase 1:] ….. (e) the Province will commission and the Parties will work together on an environmental study of the impacts of docks in Pender Harbour and an archaeological inventory for the north side of Pender Harbour in accordance with the Penner Report
- ~[Phase 1. The Parties intend to take the following steps in Phase 1:] ….. (h) the Province will proceed with short-term (up to 2 years) modification agreements to extend the tenures for up to 321 existing tenured docks in Pender Harbour.
To obtain a copy of the BC Government's Information Bulletin click HERE
For media coverage on this issue, click HERE
What the Community is Asking For
Proposed Amendments to the Draft Pender Harbour Dock Management Plan
We know of nothing unique to Pender Harbour by way of archeological or environmental issues that are not present in many other lakes, rivers, oceans, harbours or bays throughout British Columbia. Nothing has been presented to date that would convince us that a Dock Management Plan unique to the Sunshine Coast or Pender Harbour is required. We are prepared to suggest possible changes to government policy and practices that could enhance province-wide dock management as follows:
1. Affected local governments, businesses and residents must be properly consulted and their concerns accommodated, to the extent possible, before changes are made to the existing regulations or implementation of any revised Dock Management Plans, Policies or Processes is attempted.
2. Existing or updated B.C. policies, criteria and best management practices for dock construction must apply to all regions of British Columbia. Everyone should enjoy the benefits offered by such a plan.
3. Any moratoriums for dock approval must be lifted and realistic timelines established for further consultation on revisions to any plan.
4. The Province, the Federal Government and the Band should complete the treaty process where possible or resort to the Courts to properly resolve the claims advanced by the First Nations. Provincial foreshore, adjacent to fee simple land (private property) cannot be used as currency in any reconciliation agreement between the Province of British Columbia and any Indian Band.
5. Until an Indian Band land claim has been determined, the Provincial Crown must continue to exercise its proper role in managing Provincial Crown lands. If an agreement cannot be reached between the Band and the Provincial Government that respects the Government’s right to issue leases over the objections of the Band then that issue should be determined by the courts.
6. Full disclosure of any collaborative management agreement proposed between an Indian
Band and the Province of BC, including any rights retained by that Indian Band, must be made prior to consultation with affected local communities.
7. Archaeological studies must not be mandated for dock applications or renewals where no known site exists.
8. Copies of all scientific studies used to justify a dock plan update must be disclosed and sufficient time given to study and validate.
9. Zoning should not be part of a Provincial dock management plan as each dock application must be considered on its own merits.
(These are the amendments to the draft Pender Harbour Draft Dock Management Plan, considered by the Dock Management Plan Working Group, to be the most important, dated August 27, 2015)
1. Affected local governments, businesses and residents must be properly consulted and their concerns accommodated, to the extent possible, before changes are made to the existing regulations or implementation of any revised Dock Management Plans, Policies or Processes is attempted.
2. Existing or updated B.C. policies, criteria and best management practices for dock construction must apply to all regions of British Columbia. Everyone should enjoy the benefits offered by such a plan.
3. Any moratoriums for dock approval must be lifted and realistic timelines established for further consultation on revisions to any plan.
4. The Province, the Federal Government and the Band should complete the treaty process where possible or resort to the Courts to properly resolve the claims advanced by the First Nations. Provincial foreshore, adjacent to fee simple land (private property) cannot be used as currency in any reconciliation agreement between the Province of British Columbia and any Indian Band.
5. Until an Indian Band land claim has been determined, the Provincial Crown must continue to exercise its proper role in managing Provincial Crown lands. If an agreement cannot be reached between the Band and the Provincial Government that respects the Government’s right to issue leases over the objections of the Band then that issue should be determined by the courts.
6. Full disclosure of any collaborative management agreement proposed between an Indian
Band and the Province of BC, including any rights retained by that Indian Band, must be made prior to consultation with affected local communities.
7. Archaeological studies must not be mandated for dock applications or renewals where no known site exists.
8. Copies of all scientific studies used to justify a dock plan update must be disclosed and sufficient time given to study and validate.
9. Zoning should not be part of a Provincial dock management plan as each dock application must be considered on its own merits.
(These are the amendments to the draft Pender Harbour Draft Dock Management Plan, considered by the Dock Management Plan Working Group, to be the most important, dated August 27, 2015)
