Dear PSYC members:
Outside of our regular narrative and annoying attempts at humour, we seldom ask for your help. Today our ask (plea) is different.
I have attached some material that some of you may be aware of however my belief is many are not. In particular our friends and members from the US.
The Government of British Columbia is attempting to legislate a ban on boathouses and a restriction on the size of docks for personal and commercial use under what is known as the Dock Management Plan. Originally the DMP was targeted at the Pender Harbour area and has now been extended to most of the Sunshine Coast.
In a recent meeting with representatives from the Ministry responsible, it was announced that once this is approved it will become the template for all of BC. This has far reaching implications that will be a major set back to all:
The proposed DMP as currently written is fraught with problems and supported by information that is biased and inaccurate.
Further, many believe the Ministry has overstepped its authority and bypassed the administrative process that exists to bring about new policy or law. Up until recently the DMP was targeting Pender Harbour and as such it was only small community advocacy groups trying to fight this. Now that it has opened up to potentially all of BC, we needed to find a way to unify all of the various stakeholders affected. The solution was the creation of the Waterfront Protection Coalition Foundation.
Please see the attached information as well as link to their website. https://waterfrontprotection.org/
In a very short period of time the WPC has met with a number of the groups now affected, engaged one of BC’s leading PR and Media consultants, and engaged legal counsel to represent the concerns of all of those waterfront communities and recreational boaters.
The PSYC is a large and diverse group who are as passionate about our coastline as we are about our rights. The WPC needs our help!
You can help by
Please read the attached information as soon as possible and decide how you can best help.
In a very short time frame the WPC has received a number of generous donations however this is not enough to fund their efforts.
Hopefully the members and friends of the PSYC will dig in and make a difference. Please spread this to any and all you think would be interested.
Sincerely,
Jim Case
Co-Founder, Past Commodore and Honorary Secretary Treasurer