The work continues for the Save Our Harbour Coalition with a public forum of stakeholder groups who oppose the 30-year private business lease of the Nanaimo Boat Basin.
The focus of an upcoming Town Hall Meeting—Monday, March 4th at 7 pm at the Nanaimo Conference Centre—is to provide an update on the four identified streams of activity being employed to halt the Nanaimo Port Authority’s plan to privatize Nanaimo’s downtown boat basin and marina—Legal, Political, Economic Impact, and Alternative Vision.
There also will be revealed new information in respect to Nanaimo Harbour.
The questions that will be discussed include:
Who is the new “private company”contracted by the Nanaimo Port Authority? Rents for waterfront businesses will increase by 80 per cent under this new regime, threatening possible closure of existing businesses, so
Why are City Taxpayers fundingthe Nanaimo Economic Development Corporation to the tune of $1.5 million this year to develop new business?
Why is the Fishing Fleet being forced outof Nanaimo when it brings $16 million each year into the city?
“The battle we are embroiled in today was fought and won back in the 1970s,” said Dr. Michelle Corfield, whose commercial fishing vessels will be removed from the harbour if the NPA plan goes ahead.
What happens to access for the residents of Protection Island? "Protection Islanders’ access to the world will be dictated by private business. We will be reduced to second class citizens," said Dave Carter, Protection Island representative.
And
Where is City Council in all this? City Council has been invited to attend the forum. Nanaimo Port Authority has also been invited.
Everyone with an interest in this issue is encouraged to attend the forum.For more information Email: savetheharbour@gmail.com or phone 250-741-7540 or visit the webpage at saveourharbour.wordpress.com
