Derek Kilbourn, Sounder News, Tuesday, January 23 2018 The Gabriolans Against Freighter Anchorages (GAFA) continue to work to prevent the establishment of five anchorages off Gabriola’s north-east shoreline. That fight began in 2015 when it was reported in the Sounder that the Pacific Pilotage Authority and Chamber of Shipping BC were wanting a place to park Cape-sized vessels somewhere while they waited … Read More
MP Sheila Malcolmson renews call for Trudeau Liberals to honour promises and withdraw Gabriola Anchorage Proposal
MP Malcolmson calls on Trudeau Liberals to deny five deep-sea bulk anchorages off Gabriola Island To prevent oil spills, protect local jobs and endangered species, for the second time, Nanaimo-Ladysmith MP Sheila Malcolmson has asked the Prime Minister and federal Transport Minister to axe the application for five deep-sea bulk anchorages off Gabriola December 19th, 2017 – 12:42pm Read the … Read More
Transport Canada opens Formal Review Process on Anchorages
The first in a series of consultative sessions on the Federal Government’s Oceans Protection Plan (OPP) took place in Vancouver last Thursday. The meeting, billed as a Dialogue Forum, focused on a number of issues, including the future of Deep Sea Anchorages in the Southern Gulf Islands Region. Two representatives of Gabriolans Against Freighter Anchorages attended the meeting and came … Read More
Help protect our coasts by giving your input on the Governments Oceans Protection Plan (OPP)
Dear supporters of GAFA, We are writing with an important and time sensitive request. The federal government has set up a website to get input into their Oceans Protection Plan. The plan (OPP)is a broad collection of initiatives designed to improve Canada’s ability to protect our oceans and coasts, which includes issues related to anchorages. We are told this site … Read More
GAFA Raises Questions About Anchorage Consultation Process
Gabriolans Against Freighter Anchorages is asking Transport Canada to not put the interests of the shipping industry ahead of local residents and First Nations. While work begins to rewrite the rules around commercial anchorages in Canadian waters through the much touted Oceans Protection Plan, Transport Canada has agreed to allow lobbyists for the shipping industry and representatives of the Port … Read More
Time Sensitive Opportunity for Input to Ottawa Freighter Anchorages: A Threat to the Marine Ecosystem.
The NE shore of Gabriola is still under threat of freighter anchorages. The presence of these very large freighters would put at risk the marine ecosystem that so many fish, whales, sea birds and other marine species rely on for their survival. There are a couple of Federal government websites currently asking for public input. It is important to let … Read More
Locals want voices heard as Feds form freighter anchorage plan
September 5, 2017 – 5:30pm | By Ian Holmes | Nanaimo News Now NANAIMO — A national strategy being developed to overhaul where and how large freighter ships can anchor has the attention of people on Gabriola Island. A previous plan by the federal government’s Pacific Pilotage Authority to create five spaces spanning most of the east side of Gabriola was … Read More
Write a Letter
Who should I write to: Any decision to designate anchorages around Gabriola Island must be approved by the Federal Minister of Transport, Marc Garneau. The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and The Minister of Environment and Climate Change should be involved too. Note that postage is free when mailing a letter to a federal minister and written letters are much … Read More
Government’s Non-answer on Gabriola Anchorages Speaks Volumes
OTTAWA Sheila Malcolmson, Member of Parliament for Nanaimo-Ladysmith, asked a direct question about new bulk anchorages proposed just off the coast of Gabriola Island, but it was met by a non-answer from the government. This morning in Question Period, Malcolmson asked the Minister of Transport to reject five new commercial anchorages for freighters transporting Wyoming coal to China. Malcolmson had … Read More
GAFA presents ‘Freightened – The Real Price of Shipping’
Join GAFA on the 18th of March at the Community Hall from 2-4 for the screening of Freightened – The Real Price of Shipping. This eye-catching documentary reveals in an audacious investigation the mechanics and perils of cargo shipping; an all-but-visible industry that relentlessly supplies 7 billion humans and holds the key to our economy, our environment and the very … Read More
Former Fisheries Minister says Gabriola Anchorages should not go ahead without scientific study
Former Federal Fisheries Minister and Speaker of The House of Commons, John Fraser, has written a strongly worded letter to current fisheries minister Dominic LeBlanc asking that any plan for new commercial anchorages off Gabriola’s coast not be allowed to go ahead without adequate scientific study of the potential negative impacts on sea life. Read the letter here The letter … Read More
Federal Fisheries Minister ignoring science-based concerns, putting BC’s coast at risk, charges Gulf Islands group
(Gabriola Island, December 14, 2016) Federal Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc has ignored serious science-based concerns and is allowing plans to anchor giant freighters in sensitive marine regions to proceed without any review or conditions to avoid disastrous damage to fish and marine mammals, charges a group of Gulf Island residents and business owners. In a December 7th letter to Gabriolans … Read More
