by Jack Emberly/Special to The News
Abandoned boats and dock debris were removed from Alouette River during the week of March 4 – after decades of demands for action.
The cleansing is a first step towards a new governmental commitment to identify and remove the next junk vessels and debris left on the Alouette River, and fining violators of the many laws in place already – which have not been enforced.
RELATED: Dead boat cleanup underway in Pitt Meadows
Until this month, all of those authorities – including the City of Pitt Meadows, the department of fisheries (DFO), coast guard, the B.C. Ministry of the Environment (MOE) – have pointed the finger of responsibility at each other when complaints were made.
Now there’s no excuse.
Transport Canada funded the recent removal of several vessels in the Alouette. It has identified itself as one accountable agency.
Does the City of Pitt Meadows also have responsibility?
Yes, on March 5, 2018, provincial judge J. Voith, in The City of Victoria vs. Zimmerman case, ruled that municipalities had jurisdiction over boats and docks moored on water within its boundaries, and could order the removal of “vessels, live-aboard houseboats, floating docks, and any other property that they may have anchored, moored, or otherwise placed in Victoria’s Gorge waterway within 48 hours.”
That ruling clearly set the record straight by ruling that municipal bylaws have governing authority over water use within their boundaries, and may order the removal of debris within their boundaries.
Why didn’t they? Money.
Transport Canada indicated the bill of removing the junk in the Alouette alone was $500,000.
Small cities don’t have that kind of budget. To enforce their bylaws requires senior government assistance.
On Tuesday, March 6, I told Pitt Meadows council:
“We’re pleased that abandoned boats have been removed from the Alouette River after 27 years of urging by the public.
“But, another vessel could be towed up and left there because no government agency has officially declared on-going responsibility for effectively tracking boat owners, ticketing, and prosecuting violators like the eight who left their garbage in the Alouette.
“John Roe (Dead Boats Society) lists seven federal and 11 provincial laws (including the DFO and MOE) that have jurisdiction over the Alouette, but none wanted the job, citing budget and staff constraints.
“So, now that Transport Canada has funded removal of eight vessels and other debris on the Alouette River, will Pitt Meadows and Transport Canada lead the effort to keep our waterways clean, or will this effort on the Alouette be a one-off project.
“If the partnership lasts, what has happened in Pitt Meadows may benefit countless other municipalities in B.C. dealing with the same problem in their waterways.
“To council, I say, this is your challenge.”
The mayor thanked me for my information, and the director of planning told me it was the city’s aim to work collaboratively with Transport Canada going forward.
They could prove that by removing the vessel sunk on Blaney Creek I told the feds and Pitt Meadows about seven years ago.
.
– Jack Emberly is a retired teacher, local author and environmentalist
RELATED:D Dead Boats Removal Society working in Pitt Meadows
