In MAY 2021, American President Joe Biden signed a law allowing ships to bypass Canada, which had banned cruising in Canadian waters until 28FEB 2022. However, this measure was only supposed to be temporary until Canada ended its ban on cruise ships, a date now moved forward to 01NOV 2021, as reported by OpenJaw.
The proposed move to permanently circumvent Canada as cruise ships make their way to Alaska is primarily driven by the impact the pandemic and the Canadian cruise ban had on the state, which relies heavily on cruise tourism.
Stakeholders involved in the cruise industry on Canada’s West Coast have reportedly said it will take efforts from every level of the Canadian government to prevent the proposed legislation from taking effect.
As Canadians went to the polls this week in the latest federal election, B.C. Transportation Minister Rob Fleming said its provincial government plans to meet “urgently with whomever forms government next week to get them to engage immediately with the United States and assert Canada’s interests in Washington, D.C.”
Fleming also added that he had raised the issue with the Federal Minister of Transport, Omar Alghabra, and that B.C. Premier John Horgan had done the same with Canadian ambassador to the U.S., Kirsten Hillman, as well as PM Justin Trudeau, whose government was re-elected this week.
In addition, the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority said whichever government formed following the election would hear about how devastating this legislation would be for the Canadian cruise industry.
According to Ian Robertson, CEO of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, Canada’s cruise industry brings around CAD $143m a year to the local economy and creates hundreds of jobs.
In a statement, Global Affairs Canada said officials from Transport Canada, Canada Border Services Agency, Public Health Agency of Canada, Global Affairs Canada and the Canadian embassy in Washington, D.C., have been in “close contact with their American counterparts about each other’s measures with respect to cruise ships, as well as options to open the cruise season safely.”
Robertson added that Canada will need to do whatever it takes to make sure the legislation does not get passed through the system, which would make Canadian ports optional for cruise lines en route between U.S. ports.
B.C. stakeholders are prepared to begin direct lobbying in Washington and pushing for action through the Canadian embassy there.
