What you can do to help

The Background information that is important to read first......

1. If you wish to ensure the conservation, restoration and preservation of the foreshore inter-tidal zone there are several ways in which you can help. But first, it is important to understand who is responsible for what around the foreshore and harbour.

2. The Port Metro Vancouver (formally Vancouver Port Authority, (VPA) has proprietary jurisdiction for the water and a good portion of the shoreline of Burrard Inlet east of the mouth of the Capilano River including the Inner Harbour, Second Narrows, the Central Harbour, Port Moody Arm and Indian Arm. In Burrard Inlet, the majority of the waterfront industries and terminals are tenants of Port Vancouver. The residential docks and float structures crossing the inter-tidal zone into deeper water may be privately owned but the foreshore and harbour bottom beneath the structures is not and is leased from the VFPA.

3. The Port of Vancouver operates under the Canada Marine Act and is a responsible agency under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.

4. Simply, what this means is that nearly all of the inter-tidal foreshore, below the High Tide mark down to the Low Tide mark and the water to seaward is owned by the crown and is administered by VFPA

5. The land above the inter-tidal foreshore, High Water mark may or may not be privately owned but will probably fall within the jurisdiction of one of the municipalities bordering on the harbour waters mentioned in paragraph 2.

6. Thus the administration and management of the foreshore is complicated and it is therefore essential that the VFPA and the appropriate municipality work closely and co-operatively together at all times to ensure that the best interests of the general public at large are served. Regrettably, this has not always the case.

Now, what can you do to help?

a. Contact your MP, MLA or Municipal Mayor or the CEO of Port Metro Vancouver and express your concerns particularly in regard to the obstructions currently preventing or making it difficult for the general public to access and enjoy the inter-tidal zone beach. Give particular, factual instances.

b. Contact your Municipal Mayor about encroachments occurring on public lands, beach accesses etc. above the High Water mark. Again, be factual.

c. Walk the walk and talk the talk. Visit and enjoy the beaches, check out the open and closed beach accesses. Become familiar with our foreshore beaches. Explore, enjoy your beaches. Participate in the annual beach walk and beach clean up.

How to contact them:

Port Metro Vancouver

The President and CEO is Robin Silvester and the new title is Port Metro Vancouver

For information in English, contact:
Port Metro Vancouver
Tel: 604-665-9000
Fax Toll Free in North America: 1-866-284-4271
E-Mail: info@@portmetrovancouver.com

New Westminster 400-625 Agnes Street
New Westminster, BC
Canada V3M 5Y4
Tel: 604-665-9500
Richmond 7911 Grauer Road
Richmond, BC
Canada V7B 1N4
Tel: 604-665-9600
Vancouver 100 The Pointe
999 Canada Place
Vancouver, BC
Canada V6C 3T4
Tel: 604-665-9000
Pour l'information en français, contactez-nous :
Administration portuaire Metro Vancouver
Tél : 604-665-9000
Télécopie : 1-866-284-4271
Courrier électronique : info@@portmetrovancouver.com
Bureau de New Westminster625, rue Agnes, bureau 400
New Westminster, C.-B.
Canada V3M 5Y4
Tél : 604-665-9500
Bureau de Richmond7911, rue Grauer
Richmond, C.-B.
Canada V7B 1N4
Tél : 604-665-9600
Bureau de Vancouver100, The Pointe
999, Canada Place
Vancouver, C.-B.
Canada V6C 3T4
Tél : 604-665-9000

BASIC CITIZENSHIP INFORMATION
HEAD OF STATE: The representative of the Queen for all Canada is:
The Governor General: Rt. Hon. Michaëlle Jean
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
HEAD OF GOVERNMENT in power:
The Prime Minister is the Hon. Stephen Harper
The Party in Power at present is the Conservative Party of Canada
The Opposition party is the Liberal Party
The Leader of the Party is the Hon. Stéphane Dion
The other federal parties in Parliament and their leaders are:
1. Bloc Quebecois Hon. Gilles Duceppe
2. NDP (New Democratic Party) Hon. Jack Layton
The Member of Parliament (M.P.) for North Vancouver is Hon. Don Bell (Liberal)
Parliamentary Address Constituency Address
House of Commons 120 East 14th Street
Ottawa, Ontario North Vancouver, British Columbia
K1A 0A6 V7L 2N3
Fax: (613) 992-7319mailto:mailto:Bell.D@parl.gc.ca Telephone: (604) 604-775-6333
Telephone: (613) 995-1225
E-Mail: belld@parl.gc.ca E-Mail:
The Member of Parliament (M.P.) for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast is Hon. Blair Wilson (Liberal)
Parliamentary Address Constituency Address
House of Commons 402-545 Clyde Avenue (Main Office)
Ottawa Ontario West Vancouver, British Columbia
K1A 0A6 V7V 1C5
Fax: (613) 947-4620 Fax: (604) 981-1794
E-Mail: Wilson.B@parl.gc.ca E-Mail:
To locate your federal riding and Member of Parliament, use, Find your Member of Parliament using your Postal Code
http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/house/PostalCode.asp?Source=SM
Contact the Government of Canada at these Web Addresses:

Government of Canada http://canada.gc.ca/main_e.html
Citizenship and Immigration Canada http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index.html
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
Head of State: the representative of the Queen for my province is:
The Lieutenant-Governor: Hon. Steven Point
Head of the government: The Premier is: The Hon. Gordon Campbell
The Provincial party in power is: the Liberal Party
The other party with representatives in the BC Legislature is the NDP (New Democratic Party)
The Leader of the Official Opposition is: Carole James

The provincial representatives, known as MLAs are:
1. North Vancouver-Lonsdale Hon. Katherine Whittred (Liberal)
2. North Vancouver-Seymour Hon. Daniel Jarvis (Liberal)
3. West Vancouver-Capilano Hon. Ralph Sultan (Liberal)
4. West Vancouver-Garibaldi Hon. Joan McIntyre (Liberal)
To locate your MLA, enter your postal code in the MLA lookup
http://www.legis.gov.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm
Contact the Provincial Government at these Web Addresses:
Province of British Columbia http://www.gov.bc.ca/
British Columbia Newcomers Guide http://www.mcaws.gov.bc.ca/amip/rpts/ncguide03.htm

The North Shore consists of these 3 municipalities:
The City of North Vancouver population, The District of North Vancouver population,
The District of West Vancouver population

Municipal Governments on the North Shore:
1. District of North Vancouver Mayor Richard Walton
2. North Vancouver City Mayor Darrell Mussatto
3. District of West Vancouver Mayor Pam Goldsmith-Jones
Contact your city or district hall at these Web Addresses:

District of North Vancouver http://www.dnv.org
North Vancouver City http://www.cnv.org
District of West Vancouver http://www.westvancouver.net