No. P15/01
For release October 16, 2001

HOPKINS LANDING PUBLIC PORT FACILITY
OFFICIALLY TRANSFERRED TO LOCAL INTERESTS

SUNSHINE COAST, B.C. — Environment Minister David Anderson and MP (Victoria), on behalf of Transport Minister David Collenette, today announced the official transfer of the Hopkins Landing public port facility to the Sunshine Coast Regional District. The transfer agreement includes a $150,000 contribution from the National Marine Policy’s Divestiture Fund to offset the Sunshine Coast Regional District’s initial operating costs for the port facility. The Hopkins Landing port facility includes a wharf, an approach, and a float.

“The Sunshine Coast Regional District is to be congratulated for joining the move towards a new era of port management,” said Mr. Anderson. “Having these facilities run by local people who know their role in the community — and the potential for growth — will allow them to function in a more commercial and cost-effective manner.”

Mr. Anderson also announced today the official transfer of the Sointula public port facility, on Malcolm Island, and the Esperanza public port facility, on Vancouver Island, to local interests. Since 1997, the federal government has transferred over 30 regional port facilities into local hands in British Columbia.

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 Hopkins Landing public port facility was one of Transport Canada’s Regional/Local ports, which range from large facilities that support significant local and regional commercial activity to very small facilities with little or no commercial traffic.

Funding for this project was provided for in the February 2000 budget and is therefore built into the existing financial framework.

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

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