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Dragon Boat Canada


IDBF


Canoe Kayak Canada

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[Guido]

The City of Vancouver says it's is preparing to crack down on the more than 100 people who live aboard anchored boats in False Creek without paying moorage fees and taxes.

Transport Canada currently has jurisdiction, but hasn't removed the squatters.

Now, the city is about to finalize an agreement with the federal department to take over responsibility for False Creek.

Complaints about improper sewage disposal from squatters' boats have surfaced recently.

City planners also say the squatters have made the waterway dangerous for recreational users. And they note that the squatters take advantage of utilities without paying for them.

The city plans to enforce a two-week summer limit and three-week winter limit for boats anchored in False Creek. And it will impose a $100-fine or tow away boats whose owners ignore the limits.

"I think that it is improper that they can continue to stay there, ignore our standards around pollution and sewage treatment, get in the way of the use of it for other people, for the Dragon Boat races, kayaks, other recreational uses," says city councillor Anne Roberts.

"False Creek's not a parking lot. It's not right for them to be there."

In the meantime, Transport Canada will work with the city to remove squatters from navigational lanes to clear the way for the annual Dragon Boat Festival this summer.

[Lethal Weapon]

Its about friggin time. They are an eyesore and menace in the creek and on more than one occasion I have seen the inhabitants dump or  come ashore and do their business around DZ and the area. I am surprised it took this long but better late than never. The only question is where will they go to pollute next? Deep Cove?

[Rossifumi]

much respect for the local government, that's great news

[hoover]

About time!

Hopefully that helps a bit with the water quality too.

[DBWTim]

It's true that it's about time that they do something about those squatter boats. But you really have to think that it's taken how long? We made a big fuss about it last year around this time and it's only now that they implement some sort of plan.

The next step would be to see how long it would take them to tow those boats. It's one thing to say that you plan on implementing limits and issue fines.  It's another to actually go out there and tow those boats out there. How will this work anyways? I noticed that it says "fine OR tow" and not "fine AND tow".... Do they issue the $100 fine (which I think is too little of a fine to even work) for those over the two/three-week limit? Do they wait for a period of time after the fine is issued before actually towing the boat? And where are they going to tow the boats to? I don't really recall seeing a boat impound lot anywhere... If people think of False Creek as a parking lot.. what makes them think that people would actually pay the fines in the first place? How many of us have outstanding parking tickets for our cars? How will they actually enforce this? Are they going to go every week and tag each boat in the creek? Do they even have the manpower for that?

As much as I would love to see a False Creek clear of squatter boats... I don't really seeing that happen... Until I see a clear Creek that stays clear for times other than festivals, I'm writing this off as a PR move by our local government. I guess this is better than nothing.

[Rossifumi]

update to this, I read a bit where they are talking of around August to get it done.

[zephyrantes]

ie: it's not going to get done

[StraightLine]

This may finally be happening.  The following was posted on the CBC.ca web site

False Creek 'squatters' face ouster
Last updated Jun 5 2006 11:29 AM PDT
CBC News
After years of regulatory wrangling, Vancouver police say they're about to crack down on the dozens of boaters who have made their home in False Creek.

The city and Transport Canada are putting the finishing touches on a memorandum of understanding that will give the city the authority to enforce a maximum stay for what it calls "boat squatters."

It's a problem that three previous city councils has been trying to fix for the past decade.

The federal Marine Act allowed boaters to drop anchor in the waterway as long as they didn't present a hazard to marine traffic. But the legislation was amended late last year to allow the city to take action.

Sgt. Neil Gillespie of the Vancouver police Waterfront Team said they're now finalizing the details of the agreement to remove the boaters.

He said he expects to begin enforcement by the middle of July, targeting boats that are potential hazards.

"Some of these boats have just been dumped there and abandoned. In the last four or five months, we've had at least three or four boats sink. They're environmental hazards. They're just a problem."

City staff say the new rules will be similar to those in effect at a campground. Boaters who plan to stay overnight will have to register. The maximum stay will be two weeks.

Sure would be nice to see some of these boats leave.  There were at least two boats that sunk over the winter.  You could paddle by and see the boat sitting just under the surface of the water.

StraightLine.

[madcap]

I'll believe it when I see it. There are more boats this year than last, and every day there is a new one blocking up the creek. There is one sunk down by Science World and by the looks of most of them, more to come!

[blizzy]

a squatter just happened to have left their boat right smack in the middle of false creek today (between cambie bridge and science world.. but a bit closer to science world)... making it difficult to do 500m race pieces with other boats.

[PaddleFunk]

Given the condition of the creek how come nobody has ever come after these people from the environmental angle they are obviously dumping into the creek, just smell the water at low tide in the summer.  Anyway if you get caught dumping in the open ocean you can be slapped with huge fines... why not administer the same sort of justice on the people who are dumping their bilges into the creek. 

I don't know that it is the obstacle course that you have to run at the east end of the creek or the area around monk's comming out of Alder Bay that is the issue as much as what the people who are living on those boats see fit to dump into the creek on a daily basis. 

I am glad to see that something is finally happening but when it comes down to it if the city or nav can really wanted to do something about the squatters I think is is merely a question of getting creative with the nature of the enforcement. 

Then again if all else fails there is the option to to run the Geminis into them and we would kill two birds with one stone

[Raging Moose]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20060609.BCBOATS09/TPStory/National

[hoover]

In my opinion nothing would've happened if it weren't for the 2010 Olympics around the corner. It's probably the only event in town that has traction at all levels of government.

On a lighter note, if running those Geminis into the squatter boats fails, then maybe we should start taking over space on the creek by squatting with those Geminis

[tiny tina]

 

[nakano]

Time's up for squatting sailors

30 - day grace period over as False Creek boaters need permit to stay
By Maurice Bridge
Vancouver Sun

VANCOUVER - False Creek's squatting sailors have fallen from grace with the Big C -- city hall.

"Today is the day they need a permit --their 30 days' grace period is over," city engineer Taryn Scollard said Tuesday.

Dozens of vessels have called False Creek home for years, anchoring without permits and in many cases serving as floating homes for their occupants.  Some are derelict, while others are simply avoiding the moorage fees charged by local marinas.  After years of indecision, the city as worked out a deal with the federal authorities, which are responsible for regulation on the ocean, and announced last month that vessels anchored there would have to register for a permit.

The permits are free, and allow vessels to remain in False Creek 14 days out of 30 in the summer, and 21 days out of 40 in the winter. Squatters where told their time was up last month, and Tuesday was the first day of enforcement.

"We plan to have the [Vancouver police] marine squad out there, as well as some city hall staff helping people register for permits to make it easy as possible," Scollard said.  "Those who don't have permits, or don't get permits, will receive a warning that they need a permit, so it's the first step of enforcement."

She said there are no immediate plans to tow away vessels without permits, and police were taking a low-key approach to the job Tuesday.

"I don't think today is any different from yesterday or a week ago," Vancouver police Const. Howard Chow said Tuesday.  "The police boat will be out on the water like is is every day, and if they see live-aboards, they may talk to them and remind them that [Monday] was the final day and they have to get registered."

Permits are available at the False Creek Yacht Club during regular business hours, while those who arrive later can self-register for temporary permits around the clock at Stamps Landing dock in False Creek.  Maximum fine for non-compliance is $500

[email protected]

This doesn't sound very reassuring to me.  Yeah, the city is taking a stand against the squatters...a weak one at that!