How our local government works
The Strathcona Regional District is seeking legal advice about expanding the access road and parking lot at Hoskyn Landing, on the north east corner of Quadra Island.
Hoskyn Landing is used by foot traffic crossing from Quadra to Read and Maurelle Islands, as well as hikers on the Surge Rapids Trail and kayakers within Surge Narrows Provincial Park.
The SRD’s current tenure is for public moorage and a boat launch.
The access road and parking lot are on crown land within the woodlot license of Cape Mudge Forestry Ltd.
This is also the traditional territory of the We Wai Kai First Nation, who own Cape Mudge Forestry, as well as the Wei Wai Kum, Homalco and Klahoose First Nations.
BC’s Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD) staff informed the SRD they should apply for tenure over the access road and parking lot, as this is primarily used by wharf users.
This matter was discussed at the SRD Board’s May 25 Board meeting, where the Regional Director, Jim Abram of Area C, argued that the road belongs to the Ministry of Transportation and the parking lot to FLNRORD. There is no need for a legal opinion, which area C would have to pay for.
“I don’t really have any great objection to receiving a legal opinion, but I think it’s a waste of our money when staff are completely capable of dealing with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI),” he explained.
Abram insisted that all staff has to do is look at their maps.
Staff did not agree with his assessment.
Senior Manager Aniko Nelson said, “It is a staff’s opinion that the road is not a gazetted road, that it is not owned by highways. That is information that has been provided to staff by both FLNRORD and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. It is an untraveled road at this time.”
It is not recorded in any of the databases considerations. When we approached FLNRORD about obtaining additional areas for parking as requested by the community and the director, the requirement was that we took ownership of that roadway, which is currently not dedicated to anybody and provide ongoing maintenance as part of that. In addition to obtaining a further area from the timber license holder for the additional parking.”
Campbell River Director Charlies Cornfield added, “Well said Aniko. I’ve worked on this particular road with Director Abrams for at least 25 years and it’s not a dedicated highway. The ball falls to the Ministry of Forest, especially when it’s in provincial forest land and it’s their responsibility. They like to avoid that responsibility, if they can move it to someone else. I think that getting the legal opinion is the appropriate way to be absolutely certain as to responsibility.”
He agreed that the cost will probably fall to Area C.
Abram protested, “What is filling that road up now is not the outer island people. It’s all the tourists that are coming to Quadra Island from all parts of the world that are completely plugging it up!”
When the vote was called, Abram was the only one opposing the motion.
The SRD is seeking legal advice regarding the proposed roadway and parking lot expansion at Hoskyn Channel Landing.
There is much more in the podcast, including comments by Regional Director Noba Anderson of Cortes Island, Mayor Andy Adams of Campbell River, Director Claire Moglove of Campbell River and Chair Brad Unger.
Top image credit: Looking out from the pier on Hoskyn Channel, Quadra Island. Maurelle Island is to the left and Read Island to the right. – Photo by David Stanley via Flickr (CC BY SA, 2.0 License)
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