MCK endorses plan for abandoned ship in Beauharnois

12/15/2016

The Mohawk Council of Kahnaw�:ke (MCK) wishes to advise Kahnawa�kehr�:non that it has endorsed a plan by the Canadian Coast Guard to scrap the Kathryn Spirit, a vessel that had been abandoned on the Beauharnois shoreline for the past five years.

The plan, which was announced a month ago, will see a protective embankment built around the ship to stabilize it in preparation to be dismantled on site. The work is expected to begin in early January.

�We met with several representatives of the Coast Guard yesterday (Wednesday), including Julie Gascon, who is the Assistant Commissioner of the Central and Artic Region,� said Rats�nhaienhs Kenneth McComber, who has been the liaison with the Canadian Coast Guard. �It was clear that they have come up with a solution that will offer the best possible protection of the environment.� 

�We made it clear to the Coast Guard that the Kanien�keh�:ka people consider ourselves as the stewards, or protectors, of the waterways,� he added. �We will always work towards finding solutions to environmental issues. In this case, our concerns � which were made at the outset of the problem � were acknowledged by both the Coast Guard and the federal Minister of Transport, Marc Garneau.�

�It may have taken a while, but the right course of action is being taken,� Rats�nhaienhs McComber concluded.