Cruise boat operators in Kingston, Ont., say they're already losing passengers and are poised to lose tens of thousands more if the federal government sticks to its timeline of July for fixing the LaSalle Causeway.Cruise ships that normally operate from Crawford Wharf in Kingston, Ont., are shown behind a fence at a dry dock and marina on Monday. They're trapped on the wrong side of the LaSalle Causeway, which has been closed since the end of March.
"It's extraordinarily frustrating," said Eric Ferguson, general manager with Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises. While that work is underway, the government said it's "exploring" other options to allow pedestrian, cyclist, vehicle and marine traffic to resume. "You might read it and think that the federal government is planning to act fast for boats," he said.According to what cruise boat companies have been told, taking out part of the crossing would take 12 to 14 weeks — even longer than the current timeline for fixing the bridge.St. Lawrence Cruise Lines, which has already been forced to cancel two trips on The Canadian Empress, said last month it was prepared to take the federal government to court over its "bungled bridge overhaul.
Canada's Minister of Public Services and Procurement said he recognizes how important the waterway is for the community and local businesses, but stressed the need to ensure the causeway is safe. He said the government should offer companies funding to replace lost revenue, so they can continue to employ staff and called for PSPC to speed up its search for a fix, including paying for cranes to lift smaller boats over the causeway.