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
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
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
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
Volunteer for GAFA today & stop the anchorages!
The Port of Vancouver and others representing international shipping interests want to create 5 new anchorage sites in the pristine waters along the northeast shore of Gabriola Island. Despite no demonstrated need for them, these anchorages would mean ships up to 300 meters long could be parked in a place they do not belong for days and weeks at a … Read More
Canadian governments calls for citizen input. Here are more opportunities to be heard
The Federal Government is reviewing the Harper government’s changes to the Fisheries Act and you can have your say. Thriving fish populations and healthy fish habitat are important to the well-being of Canadian society. Our fish need a healthy environment to live, feed and reproduce. They also need healthy waters to migrate between these places. The Fisheries Act gives the … Read More
“No Freighter Anchorages” message taken directly to Ottawa
In two separate events this month, Nanaimo/Ladysmith MP Sheila Malcolmson and members of Gabriolans Against Freighter Anchorages took concerns about proposed commercial freighter anchorages off the NW coast of Gabriola Island, directly to decision makers in Ottawa. On Friday October 21 Malcolmson tabled the first in series of petitions containing over 5,000 signatures demanding the Minister of Transport put a … Read More
DFO decision not to review anchorage proposal was misinformed and should be reversed, say Gabriola residents and respected scientists
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 26, 2016 DFO decision not to review anchorage proposal was misinformed and should be reversed, say Gabriola residents and respected scientists (Gabriola Island BC) Scientists and Gabriola Island residents are urging the federal Fisheries Minister to reverse a decision to not assess the impact that allowing giant freighters to anchor in Georgia Straight would have on … Read More
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