Whereasthe Canadian Coast Guard has suddenly, and without prior notice, announced on July 31, 2024, that it intends to remove staff from Carmanah Point and Pachena Point, two west coast light stations in the immediate future at two very strategically located sites at the entry to the Juan de Fuca Strait and along the West Coast Trail, posing a serious threat to the safety of coastal communities, mariners, aviators, the general public, hikers 8,000 per year and the marine environment; And whereas there has been no consultation with First Nations, user groups, the light keepers, the union nor any of the effected communities, and this will put the lives of many residents and users of our coastline at serious risk due to the reduction of the myriad of safety services provided by these keepers and it is all based on a flawed report from 2018 which has not been released by the Coast Guard for review, and goes against the previous Ministers direction and that of the Senate report, Seeing the Light, which endorses staffing at light stations: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM call upon the Minister, the Commissioner and the Canadian Coast Guard management to immediately halt any plans to shut down light stations and maintain the essential levels of staffing at these and all stations on the entire coast of BC, and that this matter be, in addition, referred to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities for their immediate consideration.
