Kingston tour boat operators call for action on LaSalle Causeway
KINGSTON — Tour boat and tourism officials are calling on the federal government, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau personally, to find a faster way to get their ships out of the Inner Harbour.
The owners of St. Lawrence Cruise Lines and the Kingston Destination Group gathered on board the Canadian Empress Thursday morning for a short trip from the Kingston Marina to the upriver side of the LaSalle Causeway.
There, they called on the Public Services and Procurement and Transport Canada to find an alternative to the proposed 10-week repair schedule for the bascule bridge, closed since the end of March after being damaged during renovations.
“This situation has been ongoing now since March 30,” said Jason Clark, president of St. Lawrence Cruise LInes. “As far as we’re concerned, the length of time that has been happening between the individual government agencies such as the PSPC and the Ministry of Transport, the communication is taking far too long. They’re taking far too long on the ground to get their men on the ground.”
In a letter to Trudeau, Clark asked that the prime minister personally intervene to get the work completed faster or accept an alternative solution.
“Your government’s failure to take speedy action to solve this problem has already caused millions in economic damage and put several Kingston businesses in jeopardy,” Clark wrote.
“My company is paralyzed because our flagship, the Canadian Empress, is trapped in the Inner Harbour due to damage caused during an overhaul to the LaSalle Causeway,” Clark added. “Other tour boat operators in Kingston are facing the same crisis, and the only dry dock in eastern Ontario is idle because it cannot be accessed from Lake Ontario.”
Whig Standard
A Strong Start to Shipping Shows Resilience on the St. Lawrence Seaway
Early tonnage figures show a strong start for the 66th navigation season on the St. Lawrence Seaway demonstrating the resilience, predictability, and sustainability of the bi-national system.
Early fleet positioning due to low winter ice coverage on the Great Lakes jump-started grain and potash traffic. Canadian and U.S. grain totals increased by 39,000 metric tonnes over the previous year, totaling approximately 1.21 million metric tonnes to date. Similarly, potash traffic posted an increase of 83,000 tonnes, bringing the total up to 110,000 metric tonnes to date. Potash, which includes various mined and manufactured minerals that contain potassium in water-soluable form, is used in fertilizers to support plant growth, increase crop yield and disease resistance, and enhance water preservation.
“Our dedication to investing in infrastructure renewal lays the foundation for the Seaway’s exceptional reliability. This is critical because marine transportation is the most fuel-efficient and cost-effective method to transport goods,” said Terence Bowles, President and CEO of the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation. “A recent study showed the marine industry in the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway region supports almost 360,000 jobs and generates $66.1 billion dollars (CAD) in economic activity.”
Ongoing winter maintenance investments on the part of the Canadian St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC), and the U.S. Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS) assure a constant state of readiness, and an exceptional level of reliability. SLSMC invested approximately $379 million (CND) from 2019 to 2024 on infrastructure renewal projects on Canadian-held assets, while GLS made comparable investments on U.S.-held assets totaling $225 million (USD) in such projects since 2009. In addition to operating a safe, reliable, and efficient bi-national waterway and lock system, the SLSMC and GLS are also working together, in partnership with industry stakeholders, to develop a Green Shipping Corridor Network Initiative, demonstrating a commitment to sustainability, driving collaborative efforts on decarbonization, and shaping a sustainable future for the marine sector.
“The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway System is vital to the health of the North American economy, the strength of our supply chains, and the quality of our very way of life,” noted Adam Tindall-Schlicht, Administrator of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation. “We appreciate the tremendous responsibility that comes with the operation of this vital infrastructure, and meet it every day with planning, dedication, and ongoing investment to surpass the expectations of businesses and consumers who rely on us every day. I thank our team and our partners for their continuous efforts and wish all users of the Seaway a successful shipping season.”
Tonnage statistics for the month of May will be issued shortly and are expected to demonstrate positive trends leading into the first part of the navigation season on the St. Lawrence Seaway.
Chamber of Marine Commerce
Make Your Plans Now for Soo
Boatnerd Picnic, Freighter-Chasing Cruise
Join us for the Annual Boatnerd Picnic and Freighter-Chasing Cruise on the St. Marys River during the annual Engineers Day weekend at Sault Ste. Marie June 27-38. Find details on both events here: https://boatnerd3.jasonbowlerdesign.com/boatnerd-soo-gathering-june-27-28-2024/
