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Pender Harbour homeowners are ramping up their fight with the province and the Sechelt (shíshálh) First Nation over a plan that would see at least two dozen boat docks demolished and hundreds of others subject to environmental and archeological studies.

At least 16 locals have put up a minimum of $500 each to pay for the services of former MP John Weston, now a lawyer in private practice specializing in Aboriginal law.

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“The plan leaves dock owners on the hook for studies we don’t see any need for and expensive new building practices,” said Leonard Lee, president of the Pender Harbour Chamber of Commerce, which is leading the fight. “They have prohibited docks in some areas for no reason that we can figure out.”

Most of the docks in the area are a combination of floats and ramps that are tethered to the beach, rather than built on pilings that disturb the foreshore.

“We see no reason to remove them, if they are properly constructed,” he said. “We just want to use our time-honoured rights to enjoy the land we own.”