Gulf Islands Every Second Thursday & Online ‘24/7’ at Regional Newspaper Connecting Coastal Communities Since 1989 islandtides.com Volume 25 Number 5 March 14–27, 2013 $2 at Selected Retailers Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement Nº 40020421 Photo: Mike Yip Herring sac-roe fishery viewed from Qualicum Beach. Hundreds of thousands gulls, ducks, and seabirds congregate to share in the bounty which is monopolized by fisherfolk and sea lions while opportunistic eagles snatch their share. The human fishing usually continues for 7 to 10 days but the bird activity persists for several weeks. (See also story, page 2) Commentary by Patrick Brown Community Contribution Company Nanaimo Port Authority plans to regulations approved privatize government dock On May 14 last year, Bill 23, enacting registered charities to set up for-profit Early in 2012, the Nanaimo Port Authority was Tides’ last edition), its Board of Directors is amendments to BC’s Business Corporations businesses; they were previously limited to approached by Pacific Northwest Marina appointed by the federal Minister of Transport, Act and creating a new class of corporations to non-profit activities and could not pay any Group with a proposal to lease the downtown and it is not accountable to either the citizens be known as Community Contribution return on invested capital, which limited the Nanaimo government dock to the group for 30 or local government in Nanaimo. Companies (CCCs), was given royal assent. capitalization of their enterprises. But it would years, in return for spending some $9 million It is required by its charter to be financially The legislation legitimizes corporate also appear to permit the creation of to upgrade the facilities. self-supporting. It manages the cruise ship objectives that are not necessarily profitable enterprises designed primarily for community The port authority (NPA) has since signed facility, the Duke Point wharf, seven but benefit the community, and permits a purposes, and to allow such organizations to an Memorandum of Agreement with Pacific anchorages for deep-sea vessels, and the two- business organization to escape the ‘profit is sell shares and so attract investment. Northwest Marina Group (PNMG) without berth Nanaimo Assembly Wharf Terminal in paramount’ straitjacket. In every other respect, CCCs operate as considering alternatives, consulting any users, the harbour, as well as various other waterfront However, until regulations are published, normal business corporations. They need not discussing the idea with the City of Nanaimo amenities. it is not clear how this would work. The be non-profits, but the dividend payout and the (as required by a 2004 agreement), carrying PNMG, while it has an office and real estate regulations were approved by Order-in- degree to which activities and profits are out any planning or environmental developments in Sidney, is basically an Council on February 27. They have still not dedicated to the community would be assessment, or calling any tenders. American enterprise owned by Seattle been published, but a government press determined by the company’s Board of The terms of the proposed contract have multimillionaire Craig McCaw. It does not release, together with a reading of the Directors. not been made public. The port authority and appear to own any other Canadian marinas. amendments in Bill 23, gives a fairly clear CCCs will also be required to publish an PNMG are now attempting to finalize their Coincidentally, it is part of a group which indication of their structure. They will take annual report providing details of their social agreement, and the lack of planning and includes Seagate Pontoons, a manufacturer effect on July 29 this year. spending, community activities and dividend consultation is starting to catch up with them. and refurbisher of floats and docks for marinas. Generally, they allow the creation of a payments. NPA a Federal Body; PNMG Government Dock For 70 ‘hybrid’ type of corporations under BC law The creation of this ‘hybrid’ corporate a US Enterprise Years which can accept equity investment and pay structure, the first of its kind in Canada, opens limited returns on that investment, but are also the door to the creation of a wide variety of The NPA is one of a number of port authorities The government dock (known as the Boat committed to dedicate a proportion of profits organizations which would allow individuals to created by the federal government under the Basin) is the only public berthing facility in to community or charitable purposes. Their invest ‘patient capital’ to achieve ‘social Canada Marine Act to manage federal downtown Nanaimo, and has been in its dividend payout to investors will be limited to purposes’. government’s properties and water areas. Like present location for 70 years, while the city 40% of annual profits. Could this work for BC Ferries? 0 Port Metro Vancouver (described in Island NANAIMO DOCK, please turn to page 6 The CCC structure is designed to allow is at these SERIOUS COFFEE locations — look for the ‘Island Tides’ yellow boxes outside or racks inside! Sidney—Beacon Avenue Nanaimo—VI Conference Centre Parksville—Heritage Centre Mall South Duncan—Sun Valley Mall Nanaimo—Beaufort Centre Courtenay—Southgate Centre, Cliffe Avenue Nanaimo—Crnr Island Hwy @ Hammond Bay Rd Duncan—Cowichan Commons Mall Port Alberni—Shoppers Drugmart Plaza, 10th Ave Nanaimo—South Parkway Plaza Mill Bay—Island Highway @ Frayne Rd Nanaimo—Hammond Bay Rd CO-OP Campbell River—Willow Point Village Page 2, ISLAND TIDES, March 14, 2013 Herring mismanagement — ’cultural genocide’ Briony Penn AT POINT ATKINSON n late August, academics, First Nations, and media joined MARCH with several scientists from Department of Fisheries and Day Time Ht./ft. Ht./m. Day Time Ht./ft. Ht./m. Oceans at Simon Fraser University’s 3-day research symposiumI (brilliantly named The Herring School Workshop) 0002 5.9 1.8 0158 13.5 4.1 0612 14.8 4.5 0805 10.5 3.2 ‘to digest and discuss the dismal fate of herring in the Pacific 13WE 1241 5.2 1.6 21TH 1139 11.2 3.4 Northwest.’ 13.8 5.9 1852 4.2 1906 1.8 Michelle Washington of the Sliammon First Nation set the 0042 7.2 2.2 0242 13.5 4.1 0641 14.4 4.4 0851 9.8 3.0 mood for the days ahead. With tears pouring down her cheeks, 14TH 1320 4.9 1.5 22FR 1313 11.5 3.5 she recalled the day when a way of life—one that had endured 1944 13.5 4.1 2005 5.6 1.7 for thousands of years—ended. She was 14-years-old when the 0122 8.2 2.5 0318 13.8 4.2 commercial fleet of herring boats arrived in front of her village 0709 14.1 4.3 0925 9.2 2.8 15FR 1358 4.6 1.4 23SA 1426 11.8 3.6 of Teeshoshum (‘waters white with herring spawn’) on the 2039 13.5 4.1 2056 5.6 1.7 Sunshine Coast. ‘There were so many boats that they blocked 0204 9.2 2.8 0347 13.8 4.2 our view to the island across the bay.’ That was 27 years ago 0737 13.8 4.2 0956 8.2 2.5 16SA 1438 4.6 1.4 24SU 1524 12.5 3.8 and the herring, which provided both food and livelihoods, have 2139 13.1 4.0 2141 5.6 1.7 never returned. 0252 10.2 3.1 0414 14.1 4.3 Throughout the conference, representatives from First 0806 13.1 4.0 1027 7.2 2.2 17SU 1520 4.9 1.5 25MO 1614 12.8 3.9 Nations for the entire coast stood up for the first time, one after 2245 13.1 4.0 2222 5.9 1.8 the other, sharing their common experiences, traditional 0352 10.8 3.3 0439 14.1 4.3 knowledge, grief, and frustration. Each pinpointed the year and 0836 12.5 3.8 1059 6.2 1.9 18MO 1607 5.2 1.6 26TU 1702 13.5 4.1 cause of the loss of the distinct herring populations on which 2355 13.1 4.0 2301 6.6 2.0 these cultures and ecosystems were built. Barb Wilson, a Haida Can you help Northshore Wetland Partners locate herring grandmother and Parks Canada employee, was a little girl when 0515 11.2 3.4 0505 14.4 4.4 roe? Herring spawn early January through late April. 0915 12.1 3.7 1135 4.9 1.5 the commercial herring fleet came to fish the spawning herring 19TU 1701 5.6 1.7 27WE 1751 13.8 4.2 2340 7.2 2.2 in her village bay off Skidegate. She remembers the way the boat The roe will be small clear to whitish pearls on eelgrass,wharf 0101 13.1 4.0 0534 14.4 4.4 lights lit up the bay as they fished through the night. That was pilings,the underside of a boat, seaweeds (pictured), and shore 0653 10.8 3.3 1213 3.9 1.2 in the 1950s, and the herring have not returned in numbers 20WE 1013 11.5 3.5 28TH 1841 14.1 4.3 rocks. Look at low tide, when more roe will be visible. since. 1802 5.6 1.7 Send a message or a photo to [email protected], or FULL MOON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27 Frank Brown, Heiltsuk First Nation, spoke of the intense ADD ONE HOUR FOR DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME frustrations his people had in trying to change the herring call 250-653-9996. management practices in the once-vital spawning grounds of Spiller Channel.