NEWS
Tsawwassen First Nation
Call For Channel Dredging Program
December 12, 2024
Hon. Tamara Davidson
Minister of Environment and Parks
Government of British Columbia
PO Box 9047 Stn Prov Gov
Victoria, BC V8W 9E2
Hon. Steven Guilbeault
Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada
Government of Canada
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6
VIA EMAIL: ENV.Minister@gov.bc.ca; Steven.Guilbeault@parl.gc.ca
Re: TFN Support for a Long-Term Strategic Local Channel Dredging Plan and Program in the Lower Fraser River
ʔəy̓ sweyal (Good day) Minister Davidson and Minister Guilbeault,
In June 2021, a joint letter was sent to Prime Minister Trudeau and BC Premier Horgan from Chief Baird
(TFN), Chief Sparrow (Musqueam), Mayor Harvey (City of Delta), and Mayor Brodie (City of Richmond) on
local channel dredging in the Lower Fraser River. As elected leaders of our respective communities, we wrote to
both levels of government calling for collaborative action to resolve the long-standing problem of sediment in
the Lower Fraser River impacting our communities, and the need for a long-term, sustainable, strategic plan
and program for local channel dredging in the area to mitigate the environmental, social, rights, and economic
impacts that would benefit stakeholders alike. We asked that both levels of government collaboratively commit
to developing and implementing a strategic plan for local channel dredging in the Lower Fraser River that
would include a regular maintenance dredging program of all local channels. A copy of that letter is enclosed for
your reference.
TFN recently met with representatives of The South Fraser River Enhancement Society (formerly Ladner
Sediment Group) (“SFRES”). As fellow stakeholders in the dredging initiative, we discussed our shared concern
that a long- term sustainable solution to the dredging matter subject of the July 2021 letter remains unmet.
SFRES also apprised TFN of its meeting this November, following the provincial election, with BC’s Ministry
of Water Land and Resource Stewardship (“WALRUS”), sharing its intention to raise the matter with the new
government elect. TFN has encouraged SFRES to pursue the issue at that meeting.
Administration Office: 1926 Tsawwassen Drive, Tsawwassen, British Columbia V4M 4G2
Tel: (604) 943-2112 Fax: (604) 943-9226 Website: tsawwassenfirstnation.com
As a modern treaty nation of the Lower Fraser with treaty interests and rights implicated in the dredging matter,
TFN is a key stakeholder on this issue. The Fraser River is of critical importance to the Tsawwassen Nation and
to the Tsawwassen People – as Salmon People, fishing the Fraser is deeply woven in our Nation’s history,
traditions, and culture, and reflected in our rights enshrined in our modern day treaty agreement with you, our
treaty partners, Canada and British Columbia.
Fraser River salmon, sturgeon, and eulachon stocks are dangerously low, and the secondary channels of the
Lower Fraser are important feeding and sheltering areas for juvenile salmon. It is important that water flow is
maintained through regular maintenance dredging in the secondary channels to ensure the health and well-
being of TFN’s Fish and Water relations for seven generations, which as stewards, is our responsibility to ensure.
The problem of sediment build-up also impacts the ability of our fishers to access, safely, the navigation
channels to our preferred fishing areas in the Lower Fraser, particularly Canoe Pass area during low tide and
Ladner Harbour. A dredging plan and program is a necessary component to ensure the health and wellbeing of
the Lower Fraser River and to ensure TFN's rights, responsibilities, and traditions.
The purpose of this letter to both provincial and federal governments is to reaffirm TFN’s position on the
dredging matter captured in the 2021 letter, and to ask both government directly, as partners in treaty, to
collaboratively commit to develop and implement a long-term, sustainable strategic plan for local channel
dredging in the Lower Fraser River that includes a regular maintenance dredging program of all secondary
channels.
Thank you for your attention to this matter and I look forward to discussing how TFN can work together with
your governments on a collaborative dredging initiative.
ciθamə cən (I thank you),
Chief Laura Cassidy
Tsawwassen First Nation
lcassidy@tsawwassenfirstnation.com
cc.
Executive Council, TFN
Kwuntiltunaat, Kim Baird, Interim Chief Administrative Officer, TFN
Sheila Williams, Manager, Treaty Rights and Title Department, TFN
Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, BC Government
Peter Xotta, President and CEO, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
Simon Everatt, President, South Fraser River Enhancement Society
George Harvey, Mayor, City of Delta
Malcolm Brodie, Mayor, City of Richmond
Wayne Sparrow, Chief, Musqueam Nation
Enclosures: Enclosure 1 - Joint Letter to PM and Premier (2021)
Administration Office: 1926 Tsawwassen Drive, Tsawwassen, British Columbia V4M 4G2
Tel: (604) 943-2112 Fax: (604) 943-9226 Website: tsawwassenfirstnation.com
Federal Government Dredging Announcement Leaves Ladner's Secondary Channels High and Dry Again
News release - Department of Fisheries, Oceans and Coast Guard
November 12, 2024
Richmond, B.C. - Small craft harbours are the heart of many coastal communities, bringing people together in work and play, while supporting jobs in the fish and seafood industry for over 45,000 Canadians.
As part of Budget 2024, $463.3 million over three years will be invested for the repair and maintenance of small craft harbours. This is on top of the Department’s annual budget of $90 million for these harbours.
As part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to growing the economy to help everyone get ahead, today member of Parliament, Parm Bains, on behalf of the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, announced an investment of $32 million over three years for multiple projects in the Pacific Region.
These projects cover significant critical infrastructure improvements at eighteen Pacific Region Harbours, including nine on Vancouver Island, four in the Lower Mainland, two on the Sunshine Coast, two in the Gulf Islands and one on the North Coast. Work on these projects is anticipated to begin in fall 2024. The overall budget also includes $11.15 million to complete minor projects to support health and safety requirements at various harbours, as required.
The fishing industry is central to many coastal communities across Canada, and harvesters need small craft harbours to be safe and reliable. With climate change causing more extreme weather events, it is critical to invest in infrastructure that is more resilient, and above all else, safe for harbour users.
These investments support local economic development for generations to come, providing functional harbours for Canadians working in the fisheries, aquaculture, construction, and marine engineering sectors. see more
Delta Council Presentation
On September 23rd, 2024 members of the South Fraser River Enhancement Society went before Delta Council to request changes to the Delta OCP and the formation of a Waterway Maintenance Committee comprised of First Nations, City of Delta and local stakeholders.
South Fraser River Enhancement Society (SFRES)
•The South Fraser River Enhancement Society (formerly Ladner Sediment Group) is a registered non-profit organization that brings together stakeholders from various sectors.
•Stakeholders include representatives from Industry, Business, Marinas, Fisheries, Ladner Yacht Club, Delta Lifeboat (Canadian Lifeboat Institution), Float Home Communities, and Private Float home attached properties.
•SFRES is dedicated to the restoration and preservation of the secondary channels of the South Fraser River. We aim to support and advocate for our members, ensuring a sustainable balance between the Fraser River ecosystem and those who reside, work, and derive enjoyment from the waterways.
•We are partnering with Tsawwassen First Nations on common goals
Dredging Ladner Harbour Channel
Christmas came early for those that use the Ladner Harbour Channel. Vancouver Pile Driving arrived December 9th, 2023 to remove the accumulation of silt from the channel. The project will address a segment of one of the critical waterways in the Ladner area by restoring channel depth into the Harbour. Work is expected to continue through January.
August 1, 2023
CTV News Hour Feature on the dangers of Sediment buildup in the Fraser River Secondary Channels
