A proposed funding mechanism for dedicated port policing could end up having significant and unintended consequences that drives away business from B.C. ports.
That was the warning raised by Coun. Dylan Kruger Monday during discussion on a motion he raised asking to withdraw the cities motion to be debated at next week’s Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) convention, requesting a shipping container fee.
Saying he supports the need for enhanced policing at Deltaport and elsewhere, Kruger cited a recent letter from port operator Global Container Terminals (GCT), which raises several concerns and requests further consideration.
Council had endorsed the original motion requesting a container fee for submission to the UBCM, and it was subsequently endorsed going forward by the Lower Mainland Local Government Association.
Kruger said the UBCM motion is “not a be-all and end-all” and there would be other advocacy opportunities for port policing.
Mayor George Harvie was opposed, telling Kruger his motion was out of order and that Delta’s motion can only be withdrawn from the UBCM floor.
“I do not take lightly, at this moment, Global Container Terminals sending a letter asking for us to withdraw a motion. We all know the problems this port faces and all ports across Canada. We all know the fact that we have illegal drugs coming in with very little threat of being prosecuted or found. I’m looking forward to commenting on the need for a sustainable funding mechanism, $10 per container, so we could actually move forward and push the federal government….” said Harvie.
Kruger’s motion was defeated on a 4-3 vote.
Coun. Alicia Guichon said it unfortunate the GCT letter came so close to the convention, and she would have preferred additional time to consider the concerns.