Evidence of meeting #37 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was wharf.
Chief, 'Namgis First Nation
It's hard to say. I guess the other communities had a better pitch than we did.
Liberal
Chief, 'Namgis First Nation
No. In 1993 the Alert Bay breakwater replacement conceptual design alternative study was completed by Government Services Canada, for us. We actually had a committee with representatives from the Department of Indian Affairs, the small craft harbours program, and Employment Canada, and we were really going great guns with the planning, but there was no money.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
What is your relationship with the small craft harbours program today?
Chief, 'Namgis First Nation
Very little. We don't really have any resources coming from them for management of the old breakwater. The Municipality of Alert Bay of course have their continuing relationship with them, as they are now responsible for the new breakwater in Alert Bay.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
Mr. Davidge, very quickly, regarding this big project you said you're working on, coming up very soon, you did seek and receive other funds from other sources. Is that correct? Could you expand on that a little and also on your relationship with the small craft harbours program?
Chief Administrative Officer, District of Port Hardy
Certainly. Approximately two years ago the provincial government set up various funds around the province. I believe they were in the neighbourhood of approximately $50 million each in our region. It's called Island Coastal Economic Trust, and communities in that region were able to apply for various economic projects in their area. We knew the small craft harbours program was going forward with this project. We were able to use the project dollars there as leverage to access more funds with ICET, that particular group.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
That was my next question. Your ICET is primarily an economic development engine--is that correct?
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
And very quickly, how is your relationship with small craft harbours directorate?
Chief Administrative Officer, District of Port Hardy
It's very good. We have good communication.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
Thank you.
I'd like to pass to Mr. Matthews.
Liberal
Bill Matthews Liberal Random—Burin—St. George's, NL
Thank you.
I'd like to welcome our witnesses.
I just want to follow up, if I can, on the divestiture issue. It seems to me that the issue of ownership hasn't been settled. David, from your point of view, that certainly jumped out loud and clear. Wasn't there any documentation or anything associated with your divestiture and the decision about who the rightful owner of the property is, or is that still in limbo?
Director, Quatsino First Nation
There were three or four different contracts signed describing the turnover of the dock, the use of the moneys, and a bunch of different things. But to me, it doesn't say that this is your dock and you're responsible from here on in. We've been told that we can go to small craft harbours directorate for various things, but other people have told us no, the dock is our own. So it's kind of one of those situations where it's not black and white. Do we still fall under small craft harbours directorate? Are we allowed to access some other funding? Or are we on our own?
Liberal
Bill Matthews Liberal Random—Burin—St. George's, NL
I guess that's what puzzles me. Who originally owned the property, then?
Liberal
Director, Quatsino First Nation
Whether it was small craft harbours directorate, I'm not positive.
Liberal
Bill Matthews Liberal Random—Burin—St. George's, NL
Okay. So you have a situation, it seems to me, that was similar to Mr. Sherrell's, I believe.
You had a Transport Canada wharf, I understand.
Chair, Regional District of Mount Waddington
We're speaking of the same wharf.
Chair, Regional District of Mount Waddington
Actually, I neglected to mention that in my area, the hamlet of Quatsino, there remains the last Transport Canada dock maintained by Transport Canada.
In answer to your question, it's my understanding--and I spent a lot of time with this with the previous group--that after a certain period of time, I believe, ownership goes directly over. But there were requirements in the agreement that there would be communication and there would be a user group and there would be this kind of thing established. Frankly, we haven't pursued it. I think the Quatsino First Nation inherited a very difficult situation, and I think we are just now starting to hit the point. But I think that's key to it.
I believe, and I'd have to go back and check, that at the end of the day, ownership is directly transferred over to the parties. It indeed could have been transferred over. It was one of our great concerns expressed to the group that previously had the dock.
Liberal
Bill Matthews Liberal Random—Burin—St. George's, NL
So there were dollar figures, obviously, associated with that wharf.
Was the wharf brought up to an acceptable standard before it was divested, or were you given money to bring it up to standard?
Chair, Regional District of Mount Waddington
First of all, the regional district wasn't given any money. The community club, the Coal Harbour Community Club, was given, I believe, $550,000 originally. That was the agreement, and they could use the interest. Dave spoke to the process. It's my understanding that the final decision at the time the Quatsino First Nations took the dock over.... I believe it was $1.6 million. That is the number I recall, but again, Transport Canada, if I may, seemed most concerned with simply getting rid of the dock. There wasn't much follow-up as to how they would assist whoever took it over to help them get an operation under way and look after the needs of the greater population.
I can appreciate Dave's comment that there are some people who think it's a dock and it's theirs and that nobody should have any say about the rates or whatever. They think it's still the way it was thirty or forty years ago when it was a Transport Canada dock. So I think that's the fundamental problem.
Liberal
Bill Matthews Liberal Random—Burin—St. George's, NL
You said that there was small craft harbour funding of $3.1 million approved.