Scarlett Point Connected coast fibre-optic cable landing site reconstruction

The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) is proposing a project. The Connected Coast Partnership was formed as a joint venture between CityWest and the Strathcona Regional District with Canadian Coast Guard funding and a mandate to design, build and operate the Connected Coast subsea fibre-optic network. By providing links connecting from Northern British Columbia and Haida Gwaii, along the British Columbia coast and around Vancouver Island to the Internet exchange in Vancouver, this fibre network is improving the access, capacity, affordability, and reliability of Internet and other telecom services for residents in rural and remote communities. The cable comes ashore to connect to power infrastructure at approximately 119 landing sites. Installation is complete with this light station landing to be replaced.

Benefits are related to communication, education, commerce, healthcare, and marine safety.

This application is specific to the redesigned landing proposed to connect the Scarlett Point Light Station. The Significance of Environmental Effects Determination (SEED) application for the original design was approved in December 2021 Reference No. 83187. The revised design is necessary to improve the security of the network as the initial landing has been deemed to be at too high risk of damage due to the high-energy nature of the exposed landing site over the rocks southeast of the light station. The revised design now has the cable coming ashore on a more protected beach located south of the light station. The overland cable route from the landing to connect to the existing wall box at the light station is also described below. Additional infrastructure from this point has been installed and no further work is proposed.

Installation is proposed in the summer of 2026

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Latest update

May 5, 2026 - The Department of National Defence intends to make a determination regarding whether the carrying out of the project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. To help inform this determination, the Department of National Defence is inviting public comments until May 24, 2026 respecting that determination.

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Key documents

Key documents
Document number Document title File Date
1 Public Comment Period on Intent to Make a Determination - May 5, 2026

Contacts

Adam Cochrane
Department of National Defence
Adam Cochrane, Canadian Coast Guard Western Region Engineering Manager – Electronics and Informatics
25 Huron Street
Victoria, British Columbia V8V 4V9
Email: Adam.Cochrane@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Director Environment and Sustainable Management, Assistant Deputy Minister (Infrastructure & Environment)
Department of National Defence
National Defence Headquarters
60 Moodie Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K2
Email: mnd.environment-environnement.mdn@forces.gc.ca


Disclaimer

This map is for illustrative purposes. The markers represent the approximate locations based on available data. More than one marker may be identified for a given assessment.

  • Location

    • Scarlett Point Lightstation (Balaklava Island) (British Columbia)

  • Nature of Activity

    • Building and Property Development

  • Assessment Status

    In progress

  • Start Date

    2026-05-05

  • Proponent

    Department of National Defence

  • Authorities

    • Department of National Defence

  • Assessment Type

    Project on federal lands

  • Reference Number

    90441

Nearby assessments

...within 200 kilometres
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