‘Extremely difficult:’ Rideau Canal communities, businesses grapple with LaSalle Causeway-related waterway disruptions
Tensions are rising in the Rideau Lakes community regarding fallout from the unexpected demolition of the LaSalle Causeway bascule bridge in Kingston, and the temporary modular bridge that will replace it for the next several years.
In response to the ongoing situation, Mayor Arie Hoogenboom submitted a proposed motion on Aug. 12 to the Municipal Township Services for the Township of Rideau Lakes, stating “that the Council of the Township of Rideau Lakes joins with its Rideau Canal corridor municipal partners in sending its strong objection to the PSPC in its plans for a temporary fixed bridge and demands that an immediate solution be developed to allow large boat vessel traffic to travel freely through the system.”
The motion, which was passed by the committee, explained that the temporary bridge would “result in the Rideau Canal being cut off from large vessel traffic for the next two to three years, reducing tourism spend in our communities and putting the future of the Rideau Canal operations at risk.”
When reached for comment, Mayor Hoogenboom told Brockvilleist that he has noticed a definite downturn in boat traffic and tourism on the Rideau Canal. With six lock stations in the municipality, Hoogenboom explained, “Tourism is one of our two major industries. That and agriculture are our two major opportunities for people in business to make their living.”
The mayor said when considering the downturn in tourism, he couldn’t say it’s all because of the LaSalle Causeway issues per se, sharing “I think the media coverage surrounding the situation has turned a lot of people away even though their boats might still be able to get through.” (It is only larger vessels that are over 15 feet in height that will not be able to pass through when the temporary bridge is in place.)
Hoogenboom elaborated, “People are not making the loop. Over the years, we’ve had a lot of people from Quebec for example make the loop down the St. Lawrence, through Kingston, up to Ottawa and onto Montreal. That traffic definitely seems to be down.”
One local business directly affected by this bridge debacle is Ontario Waterway Cruises, a family-owned business that has operated along the Rideau Canal and Trent-Severn Waterway since 1982. For years, their large 45-passenger vessel, the M.V. Kawartha Voyageur, has taken guests on a voyage of 355 miles around various waterways, heritage canals, scenic lakes and more. One of the vital connecting arteries along their journey is the passage through Kingston.
The M.V. Kawartha Voyageur Captain Marc Ackert spoke with Brockvilleist to share his grave concerns about the ongoing situation. Ackert has served as captain of the Kawartha Voyageur for 43 years and did not mince words when expressing his frustration.
“This is absolutely the top issue with our company presently. It is very perplexing how it’s being handled.”
Ackert explained that “earlier this spring, we had to cancel four trips on the Rideau Canal system and each trip is about $125,000, so that was $450,000 that did not come back into the Eastern Ontario community. We were able, once they removed the bridge, to come for a round of trips in July, but I was supposed to come back to do the Rideau in September for four more trips.”
This past Friday (Aug. 16) he was notified that they will not be able to make the last two trips that were planned. Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), the company overseeing the LaSalle Causeway project, told Ackert that the temporary bridge would not be able to be moved for larger vessels on the days needed.
“This is a huge issue,” Ackert expressed. “The communication with the PSPC organization has been extremely difficult.”
The captain did mention that he has sympathy for the number of factors and stressors that the PSPC and the Kingston community have been navigating over the last few months to find a bridge solution, but he wants to ensure that marine travel and tourism do not get overlooked in the process.
“The Kingston mayor and member of parliament have been on this since April telling everybody that they’re bringing back a bridge, but there’s still the marine segment. I don’t know that the mayor or member of Parliament are [understanding of] the ongoing needs of the marine community.”
Ackert called attention to a legislative process run by Transport Canada called the Navigable Waters Protection Act Of Canada, which produces a framework to lay out all the users and come up with an equitable solution.
“I’ve been doing this for 43 years and we have witnessed huge monumental bridges being built over our waterways across this nation and none of them have hampered marine traffic like this one so I don’t know the Lasalle Causeway is so special. It’s not conforming to the appropriate controls around marine use,” Ackert said.
The captain confirmed that a Navigable Waters Protection Act Of Canada assessment is underway, which will eventually lead to a permit by Transport Canada that will tell PSPC to remove or build infrastructures over the waterway.
“The public will be engaged in that process. I don’t need to be the one carrying the sword, I just want to make sure that enough people get their voices heard and know that this process is underway.”
Ackert has been notified by PSPC that they plan on moving the bridge once a month for a few hours to allow larger vessels to get through; however, that solution, being limited as it is, does not work with the already pre-scheduled and organized routes of the Ontario Water Cruises’ passengers and crew.
PSPC plans on closing the waterway opening on Sept. 19, and keeping it closed until Oct. 15 as they prepare the temporary bridge. They will then close the bridge and open the waterway again for one day on Nov. 15.
“Our company is very perplexed because we’ve been on the Rideau Canal for 43 years and our 2025 season is already 60 per cent sold out for that route. We don’t know if they’re going to have a functional alternative. For the larger vessel, the Rideau Canal is effectively closed until a better program is in front of the public. It’s the government of Canada, they have to be a little more clear with what the plan is.”
Ackert told Brockvilleist that he has been putting pressure on the PSPC to present a plan for 2025 because there are a large number of businesses and connected economies relying on the Rideau Canal and decisions need to be made.
“Those plans are being fabricated now and if there’s no confidence that there’s going to be a functional solution then those people and their business are going to go somewhere else. That’s not doing anyone in the region any favours at all.”
Mayor Hoogenboom also shared Ackert’s call to action, stating “We’re certainly looking for the federal government to step up and find a solution that isn’t going to take two years. We’re working with our local federal member and with our other local municipalities that are also directly impacted to try to put some pressure on that.”
Brockvilleist will continue to provide coverage on this story as more information becomes available.