Due to ongoing public-sector job action, the Ministerial Order to fast-track boathouse dock licenses by September was delayed. The WPC will continue pressing the Province to honour their grandfathering commitments and deliver on the fast-track process for Boathouse and dock licenses as announced earlier this year.
Many dock owners on the Sunshine Coast with registered docks without boathouses were receiving 20-year grandfathered licenses prior to the public-sector job action. However, per a note on the DMP Project page, the B.C. government is currently not processing 20-year renewable licences of occupation, nor are they responding to submission inquiries. Planned site visits to strata, group and commercial moorages were also paused.
In the meantime, you can still self-register your dock to receive an invitation to apply for a 20-year license when the process resumes. Self-registering is fast and easy – no photos, measurements or studies are required.
Information Session FAQs Updated
The Province updated their Pender Harbour / shíshálh Nation FAQ document on October 8, 2025, which can be found here. The update confirms that the Order in Council authorizing shared dock-decision negotiations has been repealed, and the Province states that it is not pursuing any new agreements or Land Act changes related to docks at this time. For now, dock tenures remain under existing provincial processes, and the WPC will continue monitoring future developments.
Gambier and Squamish Land Use Planning
The WPC is closely watching the situation on Gambier Island. While the Province has confirmed that the Squamish Nation Agreement does not restrict docks or boathouses at this time, it also indicated future discussions could occur to address foreshore management. Our concern is that any such process must protect existing tenure rights and respect the long-standing access for property owners and the public. The Gambier Island Community and WPC are continuing to seek assurances that any next steps will include transparency, consultation and protection of established rights.
You can read our letter to the Ministry here and the Deputy Minister’s official response here. More information is also available on the Gambier Our Island, Our Voice website.
Thank you for your continued support.