Fisheries committee  Well, the problem you run into is that you have derelict vessels that are paying berthage. That's the real problem. They pay berthage, and as a harbour authority, when you take the berthage because they've taken the spot, then that vessel is your problem. We have vessels that sit

Fisheries committee  I recommend a dark, stormy night, when nobody can see you.

Fisheries committee  We firmly believe it's the right of every harbour authority to set its own rates. When we formed our harbour authority, we sat down to look at what our minor maintenance costs were going to be and what we needed to charge, and we set the rates accordingly, so that we were able to

Fisheries committee  I come from a pretty small harbour, so I wouldn't say I've been through it many times over, but I've been through it a few times. You understand that a $40,000 project is not much of a project in any harbour. And we have the desire to do our work, and at our harbour authority we

Fisheries committee  Absolutely. We would like the contract signing authority increased from $40,000 to $200,000. Ironically, the first time we made that request it was decreased. Then it was put back up to $40,000. We're scared to ask for it again.

Fisheries committee  I think the way I would come at that is to say that one thing we're good at, both in B.C. and as fishermen, is being very adaptable. We realize the funding challenges now. If you look at the HAABC and the advisory groups, we've gotten together as volunteers to address those fundi

Fisheries committee  Yes, absolutely. I mean, if you look at $90 million to $91.5 million over eight years, I can think of a big solution and I think you guys highlighted it in your first report. We need good, long-term, stable funding. If we need $400 million, we can't spend it tomorrow. I don't thi

Fisheries committee  You're asking me to comment on the bureaucracy, and you know, I look at the staff we have in B.C. and they're phenomenal. And you talk to every harbour authority across the country and they talk about their staff the same way. Ottawa doesn't have a harbour authority.

Fisheries committee  Good afternoon, everybody. On behalf of the Pacific Regional Harbour Authority Advisory Committee, I would like to welcome the members of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans to the west coast. When I was asked to be here today, I sat down to think about the message I

Fisheries committee  I'm Ben Mabberley, a commercial salmon and herring fisherman. I'm president of the Whaler Bay Harbour Authority and I'm here on behalf of the Pacific Regional Harbour Authority Advisory Committee. I'm also the vice-chair of the national advisory committee.