No. A006/06
For release March 30, 2006
SOURIS, PEI — Today the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign
Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, on behalf of the
Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities,
together with Souris Harbour Authority (SHAI) President Gus Clinton,
announced the transfer of ownership of the port of Souris to the Souris Harbour
Authority Inc.
“The management of this port is now in the hands of the community,”
said Mr. MacKay. “We know that the dedicated residents of Souris will
work hard to make this a viable and growing port. They know the port’s
future potential and how to make the port prosper for Souris and Prince Edward
Island.”
The transferred property includes five hectares of upland and a harbour
comprising 650 hectares of waterlot. Also included are a total of six wharves and
piers -- including Usen’s Wharf, Knight’s Landing, Boat Harbour, the
Eastpack Wharf, the Souris Marine Terminal and the former Canadian Coast Guard
lifeboat station – plus a major breakwater protecting the entrance to the
port. The wharves are improved with security lighting, electrical and fresh water
service for fishing vessels, an electrical building, a security building at the
entrance to the Marine Terminal, and a large heated freight shed. The transfer
agreement includes a financial contribution of $22.5 million from the Government
of Canada, to be used exclusively for operational costs and maintenance of
existing infrastructure over the next 15 years.
The transfer does not include the ferry terminal for the ferry to the
Magdalen Islands, which will continue to be owned by Transport Canada. It
also does not include a small parcel of land adjacent to the Marine Terminal
associated with the new Canadian Coast Guard lifeboat station.
The Port of Souris currently provides major support for the inshore fishery, as
well as receiving shipments of aggregate to maintain highways and roads in Eastern
PEI.
"As the new owner and operator, Souris Harbour Authority Inc. will now be able
to develop and promote the port in order to make it a viable and dynamic business
entity," said Gus Clinton. "Community based ownership ensures the Souris Port is
managed with a vision generating economic development and business activity for
Eastern Prince Edward Island. Our business plan positions the port as a well
maintained, safe, multi-user port, targeting higher utilization of the facilities
by all users."
SHAI is a not-for-profit local entity with membership from community
stakeholder groups that has been established to promote the development of the
Port of Souris.
“The National Marine Policy enables ports to respond more effectively to
the needs of their customers,” said Mr. Cannon. “The better use of
transportation infrastructure in this manner will ultimately help increase trade,
tourism and job creation in this region.”
The Port of Souris is 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.
Transport Canada’s Port Divestiture Program was established as part of
the National Marine Policy, with the objective of transferring Regional/Local port
sites to other interests. 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.
- 30 -
Contacts:
Steve Bone
Transport Canada, Communications
(902) 426-7795
Gerry Gallant, Consultant
Souris Harbour Authority Inc.
(902) 566-1701
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca.
Subscribe to news releases and speeches at apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date
on the latest from Transport Canada.
This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with
visual disabilities.
