The federal government has announced funding and partnerships to remove dozens of derelict boats from B.C.含羞草研究社檚 shores.
Transport Canada announced on Tuesday, Feb. 16, that it will spend $1.7 million on 95 boat assessment and boat removal projects in B.C., Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Thirty-seven of the 51 derelict vessel removals will be done in B.C., as well as 43 of the 44 abandoned boat assessments.
含羞草研究社淭hese abandoned vessels cause all kinds of environmental and ecological hazards to the communities around them, to the environment around them and it is really important that we are doing this work,含羞草研究社� said Omar Alghabra, federal minister of transport, speaking to Black Press.
His ministry announced that it would be paying 100 per cent of assessment and removal costs on abandoned vessels, up from 75 per cent in previous years, in consideration of economic impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Alghabra, who has been minister of transport for just five weeks, said colleagues have advised him that the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act is working 含羞草研究社済reat,含羞草研究社� but have at the same time reminded him 含羞草研究社渢hat it含羞草研究社檚 important to continue to build on it.含羞草研究社�
The ministry says its abandoned boats program has led to 109 assessments and 112 boat removals.
含羞草研究社淚 believe there are lessons being learned from every case and every assessment and we take these lessons and certainly benefit from them in the following years,含羞草研究社� Alghabra said.
The partnerships announced this week 含羞草研究社� with Coastal Restoration Society, Salish Sea Industrial Services, Heiltsuk Horizon Maritime Services and We are the Change for Humanity 含羞草研究社� involve assessment of 18 boats in Barkley Sound, 12 in Nootka Sound, eight in the Bella Bella area, three in Bamfield Harbour and two in Alert Bay and removal of 24 boars in Victoria, 11 in Tofino and two in Alert Bay.
The minister said contracts and arrangements vary but the federal government has 含羞草研究社渃lear expectations含羞草研究社� about the work to be done and timelines.
含羞草研究社淲e are confident that these partners have the abilities and the know-how to get the job done,含羞草研究社� he said.
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