Thank you, Chair.
Good morning, Chair and committee members. Thank you for allowing me to speak on the pressing issue of derelict and abandoned vessels.
I come to you today from Ladysmith, Vancouver Island, on the traditional territory of the Stz'uminus First Nation.
Derelict and abandoned vessels directly impact our community, economy and environment. Over the past several years, I've seen first-hand the impact of abandoned vessels in Ladysmith waters. As a coastal community, we depend on healthy waterways for local fisheries and tourism. As a boater, I've sailed from Croatia to Vancouver, visiting 150 ports worldwide, and nowhere have I encountered the level of derelict boats we see here in British Columbia. Our waters are littered, and it's a growing concern.
Abandoned vessels leak oil, fuel and chemicals, harming marine ecosystems and endangering fish, marine mammals and coastal wildlife. These pollutants threaten our environment and compromise the health of waters essential for fishing and tourism. Our waterfront is a vital community asset, essential for residents and to attracting visitors; however, abandoned vessels create ongoing challenges, deterring tourists, boaters and recreational users and projecting an image of neglect that harms our local tourism industry.
Abandoned vessels pose serious safety risks, blocking channels and creating hazards for boaters. Sunken boats also make anchoring and navigation difficult. In Ladysmith, an area known as Dogpatch is especially impacted, with many boats abandoned or occupied by individuals facing housing, addiction and mental health challenges. This safety concern is troubling, especially given its proximity to Transfer Beach, a cherished community waterfront.
As a community, we cannot solve this problem alone. Stronger collaboration between local governments, provincial authorities and federal agencies is essential. However, I believe a comprehensive, multipronged approach is necessary to address the root causes of derelict vessels in British Columbia's waters.
While the initial steps are appreciated, they are not enough. Canada needs a proactive, sustainable and comprehensive strategy that goes beyond addressing existing abandoned vessels and focuses on prevention and accountability. A national strategy would ensure that all regions, communities and stakeholders are united in addressing, removing and preventing abandoned vessels in Canadian waters. This approach is crucial for preserving our environment, supporting our local economies and respecting indigenous rights to hunting, fishing and food security.
We have some recommendations from the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce. We believe that the Government of Canada should adopt a national strategy based on three principles: identification, removal and prevention.
Our key recommendations are collaboration and stakeholder engagement, improved systems for vessel owner identification, adjustment of fees to cover vessel disposal costs, establishing a vessel turn-in program, promoting recycling standards and innovation, sending support for salvage services in local and indigenous communities and streamlining the disposal process.
The expected benefits of a national strategy would be environmental protection, community safety, economic support and indigenous rights and food security.
At the end of the day, derelict vessels are not just an eyesore. They represent a serious risk to our environment, our economy and the safety of our residents. I urge the government to take action by creating more robust programs for vessel disposal, increasing funding for their removal and fostering co-operation between all levels of government and local stakeholders.
With a national strategy, I believe we can protect our precious coastal resources and ensure that future generations can enjoy the beauty and bounty of our waters.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I'm happy to answer any questions or provide further insights on this issue.
Thank you, Chair.