Correspondence: Letter of Support for Belleville Terminal redevelopment to Deputy Minister Dr. John Knubley

Support for the Redevelopment of Belleville Terminal

I am writing to provide my support of the redevelopment of Belleville Terminal.

Belleville Terminal is an international gateway to Vancouver Island, with ferry operators bringing 1.2 million visitors through Victoria annually. However, existing facilities are substandard and are in great need of revitalization. Not only do they not meet customers' expectations today, they will also be unable to fulfill the pre-clearance requirements of tomorrow. Belleville Terminal is vital to our region's long-term vibrancy and growing tourism sector, and is accordingly a transportation infrastructure priority for our community.

As you prepare to brief new Ministers later this fall, we ask that you consider this important transportation, tourism and infrastructure priority as a key element of the Federal Tourism Strategy and the Federal Infrastructure plan. The Province and the operators have committed $17.4 million to upgrade the docks at the terminal, which is phase one of a three-phase project. Construction will be underway this fall. In addition, the City of Victoria has committed at least $1 million, and likely more, and is thus a committed partner in this project.

I plan on being in Ottawa with a large delegation of Greater Victoria and regional transportation and tourism stakeholders in early December around the Tourism Industry Association of Canada's Tourism Summit. I look forward to meeting with your officials and others to discuss this important priority.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

Lisa Helps Victoria Mayor