The City of Victoria will talk to Transport Canada about regulating boats moored in the Selkirk waterway.
At a committee meeting Thursday, council members voted to consult the federal department about allowing the city to impose such requirements as permits to anchor and moor in the waterway. Coun. Lisa Helps, council’s liaison for Victoria West, was the lone objector among the eight councillors.
“I don’t think it’s the city’s responsibility to be enforcing provincial and federal regulations,” Helps said. “We should say, ‘These are your waterways and your rules and you should enforce them.’ ”
The seabed is owned by the province and managed by the Ministry of Lands, Forests and Natural Resource Operations. The water surface is considered a navigable waterway and is subject to federal navigation and marine habitat regulations.
Congestion of the waterway as well as potential for pollution from sewage and garbage from derelict boats led city staff to write a report in May.
Diane Carr, president of the Victoria West Community Association, said she’s happy council is pursuing the issue but was disappointed by Helps’s stance. Carr said she has received numerous emails complaining about the boats.
Mayor Dean Fortin raised concerns about the city footing the bill to dispose of any derelict boats and said liability should be part of the discussions with Transport Canada.
Rob Woodland, the city’s director of legislative and regulatory services, said he expects discussions with Transport Canada to happen this fall.
