THUNDER BAY – The City of Thunder Bay will consider taking over the dock at Fisherman’s Park in Current River.
The report is coming to council on Monday night to look at a transfer of the commercial fishing docks located at the end of Fisherman’s Road from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to the city.
The facility is on city property leased by the federal government since 1985.
Cory Halvorsen, manager of parks and open spaces, said this agreement will allow the city to be directly involved.
“We will work with the users of the dock facility and the commercial fishers to manage their annual contracts," Halvorsen said.
“The amount of revenue that the city collects from docking contracts isn’t a large amount, but at least what we do get will help offset some operating costs with the facility itself. We would only have an obligation to operate in this matter for a minimum of five years.”
Halvorsen did indicate that the DFO initially approached the city with this plan between 2015 and 2016.
“Originally when it was first constructed, I believe that there was a local presence from the DFO that made it more feasible,” Halvorsen noted. “I think the approach of the DFO is to divest ownership of these assets to either local harbour authorities or the municipalities in the area.”
The facility is on city property leased by the federal government since 1985, but a proposal is in the works to transfer it to the city's direct control.
Halvorsen added that the boat launch would remain free to use by the public.
