Boaters abandoning waterways in droves
The Rideau and Trent-Severn Canal systems closed on Thanksgiving, amid a flood of angry boaters. Both systems had disruptions due to the shortened hours. However, the Trent-Severn doesn’t flow into Ottawa and suffered what can only be described as an absolute disaster.
The root of the problem was a combination of gross mismanagement, reduced hours of operation and “flying crews” who travelled from lock to lock in areas where several locks were in proximity to each other. Boaters were often left stranded at closing time far short of their intended destinations, severely affecting tourism revenues in towns and marinas.
Despite courteous and efficient staff, some lockstations were not issued blank mooring passes and/ or lock passes. Some had no cash boxes, so couldn’t make change. In other cases, flying crews had moved on to other locks and were not available to collect. Some boaters were so angry at being stuck through no fault of their own that they refused to pay and lock staff were loath to collect.
The service impact was brought home to us in September when we arrived at Lakefield at 2:30 p.m. The crew has just closed the gates and were following boats downstream and wouldn’t be back until the next morning.
First lock was scheduled for 10 a.m.; however the crews had to clear the boats stuck at downstream locks and lock unbound boats to Lakefield before we could lock down. Net result is that we departed Lakefield at noon. So even though the posted hours of operation were from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the actual travel period could be as short as noon to 2:30 p.m.
While there was no increase in locking fees last season, six day lock pass holders, who could previously complete their trip using a single pass, required two passes to travel the same distance, effectively doubling cost.
Boaters are abandoning the waterways in droves, and many we talked with were so upset that they vowed not to return next year. In addition, a proposed 104-percent increase in seasonal mooring and a new 50 cents per foot daytime mooring fee are still scheduled for next year. The former is impossible for us to justify, and we won’t be returning. The latter has a direct negative impact on small businesses that in years past have serviced cottage boaters bringing their kids into town for ice cream.
If corporate management in private industry were to create such a disaster, heads would roll. It’s about time for that to occur at Parks Canada.
BOB CAMERON, Frankford