Mayor George Harvie, in partnership with Tsawwassen First Nation Chief Laura Cassidy, Musqueam Chief Wayne Sparrow and City of Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie, recently sent another joint letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the dredging issue.
Also going to Premier David Eby, the letter urges the federal and provincial governments to work collaboratively with local governments and First Nations and to commit to establishing a long-term strategy and appropriate resources for dredging of the lower Fraser River and its local channels.
Harvie noted a working group has been re-established by Delta, Richmond, Tsawwassen First Nation, Musqueam, and other key partners to develop a pilot project that may serve as a model for other waterfront communities across Canada, however, federal government support is needed to help develop a long-term funding and management model.
The Working Group is seeking a representative from Oceans and Fisheries Canada to join the group to help work through some of the regulatory approval challenges and assist in the development of a long-term dredging maintenance strategy.
Harvie also noted that in a recent discussion paper by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (VFPA), it is estimated that the annual funding of $2.5 million would ensure that local channels and communities remain safe for watercraft navigation for years to come.
Harvie has written to the prime minister several times on the issue.
Harvie also recently sent a letter to Steveston—Richmond East Liberal MP Parm Bains expressing optimism that the re-established working group has the potential to get dredging done on the secondary river channels that have begun to silt up.
In 2021, the VFPA announced $1 million in funding towards what it says is a near-term dredging solution to support key Delta channels within the Fraser River communities, focusing on Ladner Harbour and Gunderson Slough.
The port authority said that for 10 years, and as a gesture of good will, it committed to providing a $7 million interim dredging solution to support the Fraser River communities.
As the funding for the program has now concluded, the VFPA is working with government to identify other sources of funding that will provide a longer-term solution to support dredging in the local channels.
Following the port’s announcement, Delta MP Carla Qualtrough, in thanking the Ladner Sediment Group and the City of Delta for their efforts, said a long-term sustainable strategy for the channels is needed to ensure efficient access to markets and maritime safety.
Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport, said the government looks forward to working with the port and other partners to find an ongoing, sustainable, long-term solution.
The BC government this week announced it is providing a $2.1-million grant to the Steveston Harbour Authority to support dredging at the Richmond harbour.
Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie said an effective long-term dredging strategy is crucial to ongoing access.
