No. P02/01
For release March 08, 2001

AHOUSAT PUBLIC PORT FACILITY OFFICIALLY TRANSFERRED

AHOUSAT, B.C. –– Environment Minister David Anderson and MP (Victoria), on behalf of Transport Minister David Collenette, today announced the official transfer of the Ahousat public port facility on the west coast of Vancouver Island to Hugh Clark, the port facility’s upland owner.

The Ahousat port facility includes a wharf, a shed and an approach.

"We are moving towards a new era of port management," said Mr. Anderson. "Having this facility run locally will allow it to function in a more commercial and cost–effective manner."

Under the National Marine Policy, announced in December 1995, regional/local port facilities are being transferred to other interests over a six–year period ending in March 2002. In some cases, ports are being transferred as operating ports; in other cases, Crown land and facilities are being transferred to interested parties for other uses.

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

The Ahousat port facility was a Transport Canada regional/local ports. Regional/local ports range from large facilities that support significant local and regional commercial activity to very small facilities with little or no commercial traffic.

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Contact: Rod Nelson, Communications, Vancouver (604) 666–1675

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