Cruise ships ban extended
Originally in place until July 1, federal government pushes it to Oct. 31
OTTAWA — The federal government has extended the ban on cruise ships and passenger vessels in Canadian waters until Halloween.
The extension, which was initially put in place until July 1, was announced Friday by Transport Minister Marc Garneau.
Cruise ships with overnight accommodations allowed to carry more than 100 passengers are prohibited from operating in Canadian waters until Oct. 31.
The previous ban, announced in March, was on ships with 500 or more passengers.
Essential passenger vessels like ferries and water taxis can continue to operate using mitigation measures to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus, the Department of Transport stated in a news release, including reducing the number of passengers, enhanced cleaning and hygiene protocols, or using alternative practices such as keeping people in their vehicles, when safe to do so.
Also as of July 1, all other passenger vessels must follow provincial, territorial, local and regional health authority requirements for timelines and processes to resume operations.
Vessels with the capacity to carry more than 12 people continue to be prohibited from entering Arctic coastal waters (including Nunatsiavut, Nunavik and the Labrador coast) until Oct. 31, but beginning July 1 passenger vessels will be allowed to operate in inland rivers and lakes in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon.
The department says anyone caught not complying with the prohibitions could be subject to a penalty of $5,000 per day for an individual and $25,000 per day for a corporation.
Shane Campbell, owner of Water Prince Corner Shop and Lobster Pound on Water Street in Charlottetown, said the loss of the cruise ship season and the foot traffic that comes with it has meant a big hit for his business.
He’s gotten by so far by shifting the focus of his business — which offers takeout seafood as well as live oyster, lobster and mussels — to curbside pickup and crossCanada shipping via FedEx.
He’s also availing of emergency government benefits available to businesses to help ease some of the financial burden, but Campbell said he wonders how long the support from the federal government will last.
And it’s not just Campbell.
He said the entire tourism and hospitality sector has taken a hit.
However, he said he understands the shutdown is a necessary precaution.
“The bottom line is you've got to keep everybody safe. We’re all in the same canoe and you can’t have people dying over a buck,” he said.
“We’ll get through it somehow.”