Momentum appears to have stalled in talks about the future of the Ladysmith Community Marina, operated by the non-profit Ladysmith Maritime Society.
“Very little headway” is being made in efforts to line up further discussions with representatives from Ladysmith or the Stz-uminus First Nation, the society said in a news release.
The three parties met early last week and the society had anticipated additional talks but efforts to continue discussions have been unsuccessful, it said.
“We would like the Town of Ladysmith to support collaboration with Stz’uminus, so that the community marina operations can continue uninterrupted,” society president Kelly Daniels said.
The society has shared revenue with the town annually, as required in its licence of occupation and operating agreements, he said.
The province owns the water lot holding the community marina. Ladysmith has been leasing the lot and under a reconciliation agreement with the First Nation, the lease will be transferred to Stz’uminus.
Ladysmith has given the society an eviction notice for the end of this year.
Long-term and visiting boaters who use the marina are uncertain about how the situation will unfold. A public meeting was held last week to update citizens on what the society knows and to hear their feedback.
A Ministry of Forests official said in a statement that the province is working with the First Nation on implementing the reconciliation agreement.
It recognizes the nation’s “desire to continue to operate the marina under lease as part of the Stz’uminus’ broader economic development and governance goals for Ladysmith Harbour.”
It is also aware of efforts by the town and nation to seek solutions raised by the society in a way that respects principles of reconciliation and minimizes impacts on the community, the ministry said
The agreement said the nation put a high priority on the acquisition of the Ladysmith Marina lease.
Ladysmith has been working with the nation, the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation and the Forests Ministry on the marina lease transfer, the statement said.
It noted that the province is not a party to the agreements between the society and the town.
Richard Kinar, a Ladysmith mariner who is not a member of the community marina, welcomes reconciliation but said the process in relation to the water lot has been mismanaged by the province.
”It’s a PR nightmare.” he said. “We should be celebrating reconciliation, the agreement that we’ve come to and the growth in Ladysmith.”
There are many steps the province could have taken to ensure the transfer went smoothly, that everyone felt comfortable and that there was more transparency, said Kinar.
He is not opposed to transferring the lease but rather the way it has been handled.
Some people are angry about the situation and wonder who their landlord will be at the marina.
The province should hold a town meeting and explain what is going on, he said.
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