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Misleading report won’t distract Port from its pursuits


Misleading report won’t distract Port from its pursuits
May 14, 2019
Port of Nanaimo officials maintain that a document released by the Nanaimo Marina Association (NMA) on the weekend is filled with the same inaccuracies and accusations about Port operations that were made last year, but it won’t distract the Port from their goals of creating jobs and continuing to work on attracting short-sea shipping opportunities to the mid-Island region.

“The document contains misinformation that was previously released through social media many months ago,” says Port CEO Ian Marr, who is in Ottawa this week participating in the Association of Canadian Port Authorities (ACPA) national Lobby Day. The Port Modernization Review is one of the topics that will be discussed with senior government officials over the next couple days. “It’s disappointing, but we won’t allow these accusations to cause us to lose our focus” Marr adds, noting the NMA has never made a formal presentation to the Port of Nanaimo. “We’ve never heard from them directly about what they say their concerns are, which is unfortunate because we are always willing to meet with interested groups from the community.”

Acting Port Chair Donna Hais notes “We did not receive a copy of the NMA report prior to its release on social media, and unfortunately it contains a number of blatant misrepresentations. Moreover, this misleading report does unnecessary harm to our community and to the business we are all working hard to attract. It misrepresents Nanaimo.” The NMA report was submitted through the Port Modernization Review public consultation process to the federal government last December. The Port of Nanaimo participated in the joint ACPA submission process in which all Canadian Ports participated.

The NMA makes claims about the Port’s relationships with waterfront tenants. One of the Port’s major waterfront leaseholders, the Nanaimo Yacht Club (NYC), made a point of noting their solid relationship with the Port. The NMA inaccurately posted that the NYC shared their views about the Port, only to be forced to retract these comments when the NYC discovered their association had been listed as an NMA supporter without the knowledge or approval from the NYC leadership.

Commodore Mike Ganderton confirms “We have a good working relationship with (Chief Operating Officer) Mike Davidson and the Port of Nanaimo. We have signed a long-term lease with the Port and we are currently working on the rebuilding of our ‘A’ sheds. It is a very respectful relationship, and we are working well together with them.”

Port of Nanaimo
PO Box 131
Nanaimo, BC V9R 5K4

Tel: (250) 753-4146
Fax: (250) 753-4899