Is This What Makes Our 'Harbour' the 'Harbour'?
The recent decision by the Nanaimo Port Authority to quit managing the inner harbour and allow a private company to operate the docks for the next thirty years, has revealed some interesting and disturbing facts about how we allow ourselves to be governed.
Regardless of what your city council will tell you, the Nanaimo Port Authority can do as they damn well please and those affected have no say in the matter whatsoever. I expressed some concern about the process to MP James Lunney and was told basically that Mr. Dumas and company were authorities unto themselves and the federal government had no control in the matter at all. I understand that is the same response from MP Jean Crowder and MLA Keonard Krog.
This little fiefdom is ruled over by Mr. Dumas and his little band of appointed lords who can do as they jolly well please and the rest of Nanaimo has to just come along for the ride, like it or not. Make no mistake, regardless of what anyone says, the downtown harbour deal is going ahead and the new company will be making changes that will forever change the flavour of our inner harbour, for the better or for the worse.
Why Can't Mr. Dumas and the Port Authority
Actually Run The Harbour?
This is perhaps one of the most disturbing, unanswered questions this little saga presents. Why is something with such potential having to be turned over to private interests instead of continuing to be operated by the Nanaimo Port Authority? Don't they have the skills to successfully run the inner harbour?
In January of this year it was announced that DP World Vancouver and the Nanaimo Port Authority have signed a three
year agreement that awards DP World Vancouver the right to operate the
Port of Nanaimo’s facilities, including the general cargo Duke Point
facility and Assembly Wharf.
If the NPA sells the right to run the inner harbour marina, and has already made a deal with DP World to run general cargo at Duke Point and the Assembly Wharf, you might be forgiven for asking "just what does the Port Authority actually do"? It would seem they have proven to be unable to run the cargo end of things, and now running the docks in the inner harbour is beyond their expertise ...... so what are they needed for anyway? Clearly, it is not for their stellar operation of the new Cruise Ship Terminal with half the ships visiting as did before the terminal was built.
The Port Authority and Mr. Dumas have some questions to answer when he appears before city council on Monday night. Don't expect anything to change after the fact, as this is a done deal and no one can change it.
It would seem that the role being played by Mr Dumas is similar to that of other appointed boards such as Health Authorities , Transit boards etc .
ReplyDeleteThey all seem to have the ability to pay themselves well whilst divesting public (taxes)assets to the private sector.
Is it not strange that after all of this wealth redistribution that we still have so many well payed appointees?
Too bad the leadership at the port authority couldn't have figured out how to run a monopoly like the inner harbour.
ReplyDeleteI question the supposedly definitive pronouncements made in this piece by the editor and political reps. about the PA's powers. If the PA can do what it wants to do then why is it waiting for permission to proceed?
ReplyDeleteAnswer: Although the PA's are by and large independent bodies, the federal government could at any time modify or even revoke their powers. A 30 year lease may well be unprecedented: the PA may be seeking approval as a precaution or perhaps there's something in the federal legislation that requires it to seek approval for a long-term lease.
Our local MPs are not noticeably risk takers, so I'm not inclined to take their word on this. Mr. Lunney is just another backbencher who plays the backbencher's role. But why Ms. Crowder would take a pass on this situation is a complete mystery. She ought to be bringing the issue forward: after all there's nothing democratic about PA's and they wield far too much authority given that fact. Moreover, the Nanaimo PA is a haunt for good old (Liberal Party) boys, some turfed from office or otherwise in need of a sinecure.
The NDP ought to be questioning the entire set up as well as championing the issues brought forward by fishermen, Protection Islanders and other harbour users. But Ms. Crowder has shown her reticence before. You'll recall that she was a cheerleader for the VICC project even though she lives in the Cowichan Valley and when asked, couldn't be bothered to acquaint herself with issues raised by the VICC farce -- including important questions related to the federal government's role in infrastructure programmes as well as its responsibility for certain environmental issues.
The NDP has a lot of explaining to do. On important files it is trying to achieve power on the slipstream of public dissatisfaction, both provincially and federally. That's not very gutsy, to put it mildly, and quite at odds with its reform roots and traditions.
Likely the only body with any political clout in this whole issue are the First Nations, who seem to be very quiet on this whole matter.
ReplyDeleteThe Port Authority would likely sooner concentrate on luring all those fancy cruise ships, that taking care of the marina in the harbour.
Wonder how many PA staff will be laid off as a result of no longer running the harbour marina?