Mayor and Council Councillor Orr. To: From: Subject:

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1 Date: July 10, 2015 To: From: Mayor and Council Councillor Orr Subject: Pat Bay boat ramp meeting with Minister Thomson Meeting detail: Wednesday June 24th 2015 Room 24$ Legislative Building 1:15-2:00pm In attendance: Ministry of Forest, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations Honourable Steve Thomson, Minister Nancy Hintz, Executive Assistant to the Minister Rudi Mayser, Manager of Authorizations, West Coast (via conference call from Nanaimo) Sandra Baan, Major Projects Specialist, West Coast (via conference call from Nanaimo) District of North Saanich Jack McClintock, Councillor GeoffOrr, Councillor Rob Buchan, Chief Administrative Officer Recommendation: Council receive this report, and, instruct staff to write to the Province, NavCan and VAA requesting a written response outlining the specific safety concerns that prevent a public boat ramp from being added to the seaplane facility after receiving the letter from Minister Thomson. Discussion: After brief introductions Councillors McClintock and Orr summarized the content of the attached briefing note and associated maps. We acknowledged that Chief Vern Jacks of Tseycum First Nation had expressed concern with a ramp at the seaplane facility, and understood that Tseycum had just agreed to an accord with Victoria Airport Authority (VAA) that would enable a 2-year licence between the Province and VAA to proceed. We emphasized that the District s interest in adding a boat ramp was not intended to jeopardize the current licence negotiations. After a question and answer session Minister Thomson indicated that safety is the primary issue and the Province wouldn t accommodate the District s request to be added to the current 2-year licence negotiations. Minister Thomson made specific reference to strong opposition communicated by NavCan, the Seaplane Operator s Association, Tseycum First Nation and Victoria Airport Authority. The Province indicated that they don t have expertise in aviation safety and rely on the evidence provided by those that do. In this particular case the experts are deemed to be NavCan, the seaplane operators and the Victoria Airport Authority. The Provincial representatives in Nanaimo were aware of the seaplane operator s letter received by Council on June 15, 2015 We indicated that separation of the upland boat ramp area from the seaplane/barging area as proposed would eliminate most of the concerns expressed by the seaplane operators. The Province weren t in a position to discuss the format, content or currency of the position communicated by NavCan. When questioned, the Province indicated that District access to this information would required a Freedom of Information Request.

2 Aboriginal Following the meeting Councillor Orr spoke to Darlene George, Victoria Airport NavCan Manager and was informed that NavCans comments regarding safety were communicated to Mr. Bill Eller of the Seaplane Operator s Association. Ms. George indicated that NavCan has not communicated their position to the Province directly. In the interest of documenting for the record the outcome of the current public boat ramp initiative Council may wish to request a written response from the Province, NavCan, and VAA outlining the specific safety concerns that prevent a public boat ramp from being added to the seaplane facility. At the end of the meeting Minister Thomson made a commitment to do the following: 1) have his staff review the inventory of crown properties in North Saanich that might be candidates for a ramp, 2) communicate with Minister John Rustad - Relations and Reconciliation to initiative conversations and explore funding opportunities for a boat ramp at Pauquachin and/or an enhanced facility at Tsartlip, and 3) respond to the original District of North Saanich letter requesting a meeting and provide a summary of the Province s position and commitments. Options: 1. Council receive this report. 2. Council receive this report, and after receiving the letter from Minister Thomson, instruct staff to write to the Province, NavCan and VAA requesting a written response outlining the specific safety concerns that prevent a public boat ramp from being added to the seaplane facility. Sincerely, Councillor Orr Councillor McClintock Attach: Briefing note dated June 24, 2015 Peninsula Marine Access Group map of proposed ramp dated June 15, 2015 Peninsula Marine Access Group revised map of proposed ramp dated June 17, 2015 VAA seaplane base licence area map dated December 2,

3 Meeting with the Honourable Steve Thomson Minister of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations 1:15pm Wednesday June 24t, 2015 Room 24$ Legislative Building Purpose To brief Minister Thomson on the District ofnorth Saanich s interest in the Patricia Bay seaplane base and request consideration ofthe February 16, 2015 Council resolution 101. The resolution states, in part,...that either: 1) the Province add accessfor a Fat Bay boat ramp to the conditions ofany lease ofthe property to the VAA [Victoria Aüport Aitthority/, or 2) the Province entertain a separate applicationfrom North Saanichfor operation ofapublic boat ramp, as well asfloatplane and bargingfacilities, on the site. The District is looking for the Province to take a leadership role and indicate that combined use of the seaplane facility to the benefit of all parties has merit. Background The Patricia Bay seaplane base has been in operation since the 1940 s and is located at the western end of runway 09/27 at the Victoria International Airport. Approximately 43.9 ha of Provincial foreshore was filled to create the original wartime seaplane base which included lands now occupied by the Institute of Ocean Sciences, the Coast Guard, and the VAA seaplane base. The District acknowledges that the Airport and seaplane base exist on the traditional territory of Tseycum First Nation and that these lands have both historical and cultural significance. The District is aware that negotiations between Tseycum and the Federal government via Transport Canada have been taking place for decades. Soon after the Victoria Airport Authority was established the VAA Master Plan made specific reference to these negotiations on page 1 1, Signiflcantfocus has been placed on the development ofairport lands and how this relates to first Nations treaty rights, the protection ofburial sites and other areas ofimportance to the Tceycztm people. During the period 1980 to 2015 the District initiated efforts on four occasions to have a public boat ramp established at the VAA seaplane base. The first attempt in 1980 met with little success whereas the negotiations during the 1984 to 1987 period resulted in approval in principle only to have Transport Canada reject the proposal. Undaunted the District created a Public Boat Launch Ramp Select Committee in 1988 and approached Public Works Canada once again. Over the next four years the proposal was endorsed by various stakeholders (Ministry of Crown Lands, Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans, Public Works Canada, and the Coast Guard), lease discussions took place, and design sketches were produced. Transport Canada via the Airport Manager endorsed the concept in early only to rescind that endorsement in April and impose new restrictions and costly requirements related to public ramp location. In light of the new requirements the District abandoned the ramp proposal and disbanded the Select Committee. District efforts shifted to creation ofthe Patricia Bay marine park in the same area. There no evidence of consultation with Tseycum First Nation during the period. The most recent public boat ramp initiative and the catalyst for today s meeting was resurrected in 2012 by Mr. Brian Dunic who is a long time North Saanich resident, former Councillor (during the term), President ofthe Sidney Anglers, and Chair ofthe Peninsula Marine Access Group. The Peninsula Marine Access Group (PMAG) was created in with the goal to establish a public ramp on the west side ofthe Saanich Peninsula and to lobby various stakeholder groups.

4 Pat Stemming from a 2004 Economic Planning report the District created a task force in 2006 which resulted in a comprehensive Marine Task Force Report The report confirmed the need for another public ramp in North Saanich and identified a number ofpossible locations Bay seaplane base being one ofthose locations. In addition, the loss offive public boat ramps on the Peninsula during the 1980 to 2012 period combined with an increase in the number ofrecreational boaters has put significant pressure on the two remaining facilities at Tulista (Sidney) and Tsartlip First Nation (Central Saanich). There is no longer a public boat ramp in North Saanich yet the District has the longest shoreline ofthe three Peninsula municipalities. Current Status The District is aware ofthe ongoing lease negotiations between VAA, the Province, and Tseycum First Nation and understands that a two year interim lease with certain conditions is imminent. The ultimate goal is to establish a long term 30 year lease. Safety and environmental concerns have been expressed by VAA, seaplane operators, and Chief Vern Jacks oftseycum First Nation. The District is aware ofthese concerns and is hopeful that these concerns can be adequately addressed to the satisfaction of all parties. The District is also aware of safety concerns at the Tulista ramp resulting from over-crowding and adverse weather conditions. Stakeholders and Consultation The primary stakeholders are the Victoria Airport Authority, Tseycum First Nation, and the Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations. The District has received presentations and correspondence from VAA and has had limited communication with FLNRO. Consultation with Tseycum needs to be more extensive and has been limited to PMAG correspondence and informal meetings with the District Tseycum liaison. Secondary stakeholders include Transport Canada, Coast Guard, Environment Canada, Seaplane Operators Association, Peninsula Marine Access Group, Sidney Anglers, barge facility users (ie Ramsay), Pauquachin First Nation, Tsartlip First Nation, Town of Sidney, District ofnorth Saanich, Peninsula Streams, Saanich Inlet Protection Society, and recreational boaters. The Honourable Gary Holman, MLA Saanich North and the Islands and the Honourable Elizabeth May. MP Saanich-Gulf Islands are both aware of the boat ramp initiative and have provided assistance to the extent that they are able. -2-

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6 _I Data layers from North Saanich Municpahty Grid squares = Lease area is 4800 sq m +1- Parking Lots accommodate approximately 43 vehicles with trailers Projection is UTM ZollO, NADB3 version 4 I \.?.\ D Lease D 0_ Fence El: Parking North Saanich cadastre Countours 2012 lapping \ Concept Proposal Pat Bay Boat Ramp , 4. - :

7 ( [ ;w:. 2 9U J M*4ej SEAPLANE BASE PARKING ALLOCATION LICENSE AREAS I AERT 1. OCUSZ d,,1 I J;Z \ I :