The federal government has banned cruise ships from docking in Canadian ports until Feb. 28, 2022
The federal government has banned cruise ships from docking in Canadian ports until at least Feb. 28, 2022.jpg
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VICTORIA B.C.s tourism industry is concerned about a bill being considered by the U.S. Senate, which if passed would see cruise ships bypass Canadian ports and travel directly between Seattle and Alaska and have a long-term devastating impact on an already struggling sector.
Earlier this month, Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan introduced the Alaska Tourism Recovery Act, which would temporarily exempt cruise ships from current regulations that require vessels to stop in a foreign country. In B.C., cruise ships en route to Alaska typically stop in Vancouver, Victoria or Prince Rupert.
While the proposed measures are meant to be a temporary measure to salvage Alaskas tourism economy, which heavily relies on cruise ship passengers, the B.C. Liberals said the provincial government must seek get assurances from Murkowski that the law wont be made permanent.
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Mike de Jong, Liberal MLA for Abbotsford West, said during question period Tuesday there is concern among struggling tourism operators that the new legislation could cost them hundreds of millions of dollars every year on a permanent basis. Premier John Horgan must get assurances from U.S. lawmakers that the measures will not be long-term, de Jong said, otherwise there is a risk that when the U.S.-Canada border does re-open that cruise ships will continue to bypass B.C.
The federal government has banned cruise ships from docking in Canadian ports until at least Feb. 28, 2022. However, the hard-hit cruise ship industry is hoping to get the green light from the U.S. Centres for Disease Control to start operating well before then, especially considering that President Joe Biden has set a goal for all Americans who want the COVID-19 vaccine to get it by the end of May.
Walt Judas, CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of B.C., he said if Murkowskis bill passes, there is a legitimate concern that the measures could be made permanent. The bill would seek an exemption from the U.S. Passenger Vessel Services Act, which requires all non-U.S.-flagged vessels, including most cruise ships, to stop in a foreign port before arriving in Alaska.
We believe this could be the start of a lobby that grows south of the border to eliminate the act permanently, allowing cruise ships to sail from Seattle straight to Alaska, Judas said. That would obviously be seriously detrimental to the cruise ship sector, and by extension the whole tourism industry. This could be the start of something that may continue in the future and that would lead to even more carnage than were experiencing already.
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The cruise ship industry contributed an estimated $2.7 billion each year to B.C.s economy prior to the pandemic. Each cruise ship that docked in Vancouver was worth an estimated $3 million in spending to the local economy, according to the Port of Vancouver.
Donna Spalding, government affairs and community relations consultant for Cruise Lines International Associations North West and Canada division, said the proposed bill is a temporary response to a pandemic that were all hoping will eventually go away.
Spalding, whose division includes Washington State, B.C. and Alaska, said the cruise ship industry has no desire to see the measures made permanent. She said B.C. port cities such as Vancouver and Victoria remain desirable stops for travellers. She said the proposed bill aims to prop up Alaskas economy, which relies on the cruise ship and tourism industry for 60 per cent of its annual state revenue.
Spalding said the Canadian government and provincial health authorities must work with the cruise ship industry to develop a plan for when ships can once again dock in Canada with rigorous COVID safety protocols. She noted that commercial airplanes continue to fly in and out of Canada under strict safety measures.
Melanie Mark, B.C.s minister of tourism, arts, culture and sport, said the federal government is in charge of Canadas borders and as a result, B.C. has no say on the U.S. legislation.
We are working with the federal government to advocate for a robust return to cruise ships and other industries when its safe to do so, Mark said during question period. Mark said the provinces focus is on the vaccination rollout and the safety of B.C. residents. When its safe, were going to open up international borders. But thats not up to me, and (de Jong) knows that.
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A statement from the premiers office said: This issue is entirely within the jurisdiction of the federal government and we have not seen any sign that this temporary measure would extend beyond our own pandemic restrictions. It is disingenuous to suggest otherwise.
Judas said he has written to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and several cabinet ministers asking that they re-think the February 2022 cruise ship ban and instead apply the restrictions in three-month increments. He said if vaccinations speed up both in the U.S. and Canada, there is a chance B.C. could still have a partial cruise ship season this year.
Port of Vancouver spokesperson Danielle Jang said the port is working with our travel destination partners to develop a framework for a future, phased restart of the Vancouver-to-Alaska cruise. When the time is right, we look forward to welcoming cruise travellers from within British Columbia, Canada, and around the world.
kderosa@postmedia.com
Twitter.com/katiederosayyj
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