No. P015/97
For release August 14, 1997

DISTRICT OF FORT ST. JAMES TO OPERATE PORT OF FORT ST. JAMES

FORT ST. JAMES, B.C. -- Fisheries and Oceans Minister David Anderson, on behalf of Transport Minister David Collenette, today announced the signing of a license agreement with the District of Fort St. James. The District will take over the operations of the Port of Fort St. James, on Stuart Lake, approximately 130 kilometres northwest of Prince George, B.C.

"The District of Fort St. James is to be congratulated for joining the move toward a new era of port management," said Mr. Anderson. "Having this facility run by local people who best know its role in the community -- and its potential for growth -- will allow it to function in a more commercial and cost-effective manner."

The District of Fort St. James has acquired the port facility from Transport Canada for a nominal amount with the intent of maintaining it as a public facility. Their community plans involve connecting the port facility, via lakeshore trails, to a local shoreside historical park.

Fort St. James is one of more than 200 Regional/Local ports in Canada, which range from operations that support significant local and regional commercial activity to very small facilities with little or no commercial traffic.

Under the National Marine Policy, announced in December 1995, Regional/Local port sites will be transferred to other interests over a six-year period. In some cases, ports will be transferred as operating ports; in other cases, Crown land and facilities will be transferred to interested parties for other uses. The official transfer is scheduled to take place prior to next year's boating season.

"The National Marine Policy enables ports to respond more effectively to the needs of their customers," said Mr. Collenette. "Making better use of transportation infrastructure in this manner will ultimately provide a boost to trade, tourism and job creation."

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Contact:

Rod Nelson,
Communications, Vancouver,
(604) 666-1675

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