No. P001/02For release - January 29, 2002
VICTORIA, B.C. — Environment Minister David Anderson and MP (Victoria), on behalf of Transport Minister David Collenette, today announced the official transfer of Victoria's Belleville Street public port facility to the British Columbia Provincial Capital Commission (PCC).
The transfer agreement includes a federal contribution of $1.5 million to be used exclusively for the operation and maintenance of the site.
The PCC is a provincial Crown Corporation, with a mandate to protect, preserve and enhance the unique character and surroundings of British Columbia's Capital. The Commission controls over 50 properties within Greater Victoria, including the property adjacent to Transport Canada's Belleville Street public port facility.
The Belleville Street transfer is the first step in transferring all of Transport Canada's assets in Victoria Harbour to the local community. Transport Canada continues to work with the Harbour Divestiture Partnership on the necessary steps to transfer its four remaining operating public port facilities into local hands.
"The transfer of the Belleville Street public port facility to the PCC marks a great day for Victoria," said Mr. Anderson. "Passenger ferries are an integral part of Victoria harbour and a major contributor to our region's tourism industry. The transfer means the PCC and the City of Victoria will be able to move forward on their redevelopment plans for Belleville Street and enhance the Belleville Terminal as a major gateway to the City and the Capital Region."
Today's transfer effectively merges the PCC Belleville terminal that serves the Coho car and passenger ferry and the Transport Canada Belleville Street terminal that serve the Victoria Clipper, the Victoria Star and the Victoria Express foot passenger ferries. In total, about 128,000 vehicles, and approximately 900,000 passengers arrive through the two terminals annually.
"The Provincial Capital Commission is to be congratulated for joining the move towards a new era of port management," added Mr. Anderson. "Having these facilities run by local people who know its role in the community - and its potential for growth - will allow them to function in a more commercial and cost-effective manner."
The transferred property includes a ferry terminal building, storage building, wharf, floats and parking lot. The terminal building was upgraded in 1994, prior to the Victoria Commonwealth Games.
Under the National Marine Policy, announced in December 1995, regional/local port facilities are being transferred to other interests over a six-year period ending in March 2002. In some cases, ports are being transferred as operating ports; in other cases, Crown land and facilities are being transferred to interested parties for other uses.
"The National Marine Policy enables ports to respond more effectively to the needs of their customers," said Mr. Collenette. "The better use of the transportation infrastructure in this manner will ultimately provide a boost to trade, tourism and job creation."
The Belleville Street port facility was one of Transport Canada's regional/local ports, which range from large facilities that support significant local and regional commercial activity to very small facilities with little or no commercial traffic.
Funding for this project was provided for in the December 2001 budget and is therefore built into the current fiscal framework.
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Contact:
Rod NelsonCommunications, Vancouver(604) 666-1675
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