No. P16/01
For release December 13, 2001
PORT CLEMENTS PUBLIC PORT FACILITY
OFFICIALLY TRANSFERRED TO LOCAL INTERESTS
PORT CLEMENTS, B.C. Environment Minister David Anderson and MP
(Victoria), on behalf of Transport Minister David Collenette, today announced
the official transfer of the Port Clements public port facility, on the Queen
Charlotte Islands, to the Village of Port Clements.
The transfer agreement includes a $388,000 contribution from the National
Marine Policy's Divestiture Fund to offset initial operating costs, such as
repairs and ongoing maintenance, for the port facilities. The Port Clements
port facility includes an approach, a wharf and a shed.
"The Village of Port Clements 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 its role in the
community and its potential for growth will allow them 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 Port Clements port facility was one of Transport Canada's
regional/local ports
sites, 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 December 2001 budget and
is therefore built into the current fiscal framework.
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Contact: Rod Nelson, Communications, Vancouver, (604) 666-1675
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