Update - 1 March 2024

Admin

— 5 min read

IMPORTANT! You likely heard that the Land Act amendment was put on hold by the B.C. government. BUT THAT DOES NOT STOP THE GOVERNMENT FROM MOVING FORWARD WITH THE DMP and re-introducing Land Act changes later.

SAVE-THE-DATE
The sLSA plans to hold a virtual Town Hall meeting for Sakinaw, Ruby, and North Lake property owners.

When: 4:00pm Sunday April 7, 2024
Where: Zoom call (the meeting Link will be sent to our email list approximately April 6)

sLSAlliance Update

Firstly, BIG THANKS to all the people who provided input on the shíshálh swiya Dock Management Plan (DMP), and especially those who took the time to write letters and submit your own comments. This was a huge and necessary step to get our issues on the table. The SCRD chair Len Lee stated that our sLSA comments (with tabulated concerns on each DMP item) was particularly well thought out. The SCRD Board is officially requesting a copy of our submission be included in the reading file for the Ministers and the First Nations Chief. Well done team!

Also, HUGE THANKS to all the people who donated to the sLSA fundraising campaign. We are pleased to report that over $50,000 has been raised to date across the freshwater lakes. Your donations provide the means to continue our efforts to oppose the DMP amendments. Some people have asked about the status of the funds, and we are happy to report that very little has been spent so far (a few hundred dollars for administrative expenses). Currently, our efforts are pivoting toward lobbyist, legal, and First Nations consultants, as well as media.

If you haven’t donated yet, please consider contributing by e-transferring $300 to [email protected]

Key Accomplishments – The Journey Has Just Begun!

Thanks to over 30 volunteers who have stepped-up, the Alliance has:

  • Formed a unified organization to oppose the proposed DMP amendments
  • Created 8 active committees with volunteers from across the three lakes
  • Gathered critical input and provided key points for comment submissions
  • Communicated with members via email, web-site, and social media sites
  • Conducted extensive research into regulations, scientific study options, history of dock tenures, and current inventory of docks and boathouses
  • Coordinated fund raising efforts specifically for freshwater land holders
  • Collaborated with affiliated groups (WPC, PHARA, etc.)
  • Initiated outreach with First Nations, provincial and local governments
  • Engaged and supported media and awareness efforts
  • Strengthened relationships between the lake communities and Sunshine Coast stakeholders

What are the next steps?

  1. Behind the scenes, many sLSA volunteers are undertaking advocacy efforts including lobbying government agencies, outreach, media efforts, and collaboration with the SCRD, PHARA, WPC, and other groups. These efforts will continue, especially now that the DMP comment period has closed. Up until now, the government and First Nations have refused to meet with local stakeholder groups, including the SCRD. Some opportunities for dialogue are starting to open, however we remain sceptical that the Government and the proponents of the DMP are committed to meaningful consultation.
  2. We expect the government to issue a consolidated list of the comments in a “What We Heard” release approximately March 8. This will be important to review and understand how the DMP proponents interpret the feedback received.
  3. We do not know when the government will issue additional changes to the DMP amendments, or what those changes will entail. Therefore, activities representing the concerns of freshwater dock and boathouse owners will carry on. All our docks remain at risk, and we cannot become complacent.

What can you do?

    • Let your friends know what’s happening and encourage them to act.
    • Phone or email your local MLA to express your concerns.
    • Send emails to the news media. Check our website for some good content examples. And if you see an article in the news media, contact the reporter to encourage them to keep this in the forefront.

Going forward, the Alliance needs to pivot.

The main areas of focus are now:

  • Ramp-Up Media Coverage. Now that Land Act amendments are postponed, ongoing news media will be harder to obtain. However, there are other channels that can be pursued. In particular, the sLSA plans to collaborate with the WPC on social media campaigns to achieve a stronger message and viral coverage.  If the DMP is an example of what joint decision-making looks like, then joint decision-making will be a DISASTER for BC taxpayers!  We believe the DMP and the Land Act need to remain forefront in public opinion for needed change regardless of the upcoming election outcome.
  • Prepare for the DMP Update.  Many owners are fearful that the government will put window-dressing on the DMP amendments and move forward without any grandfathering or boathouse allowances.  This will likely result in many un-tenured dock owners deciding to prepare and submit a tenure application, which is a complicated and onerous process. Others may choose to remove non-conforming docks or take a wait-and-see approach. Some owners may choose to pursue a legal defence fort their assets. At this time, the sLSA has not engaged its own legal counsel, as both PHARA and the WPC have engaged lawyers and we are working to coordinate with them.
  • Critical Activities
    • Scientific Studies. Over the last few months, the sLSA has consulted dozens of experts and we appreciate their advice on the value of potential studies and how to go about them. Their input unanimously concluded we should hold off initiating our own scientific studies at this time.  Moving ahead now could prove to be a complex, uncertain, and expensive direction.  However, we continue to engage numerous Biologists and Engineers who have volunteered their time studying the impact of removing docks and boathouses on coastal freshwater lakes, from both biodiverse and engineering perspectives.  Should we get the chance to provide lake specific input into the DMP parameters, we will be able to engage our experts from an informed perspective.
    • Collaboration. In a short period of time, a number of groups have formed (and we hear that even more groups are forming across the Province). We have participated in joint meetings and committees with PHARA, the WPC, and various boating groups to share information effectively. Moving forward, these affiliations will continue to benefit our efforts.
    • Communication. It has been an extremely busy time for the Alliance and therefore it has been challenging to provide you with regular updates. We remain committed to provide periodic emails as issues evolve and we encourage people to subscribe to the sLSA website and WPC mailing list at the links below for more frequent information (and to show your support). You can always unsubscribe at any time. Please also consider joining PHARA if you are not already a member. The PHARA Dock Management Committee was the first to alert us to the DMP Amendments, and they have been effective in escalating the Land Act concerns. PHARA raises needed funds through annual memberships.

https://slsalliancebc.ca/
 https://waterfrontprotection.org/
 https://www.phara.ca/join-us

On a personal note, throughout these last few months we have been greatly blessed with the level of genuine engagement by the fine people of Sakinaw, Ruby, North Lake, and the surrounding community. It has brought us much closer. We have gotten to know our neighbours better and faced adversity together.

Best Wishes,


Larry Van Hatten and Andrew McFadyen,
Co-Chairs, swiya Lakes Stewardship Alliance

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