MP Dean Del Mastro Applauds Freeze of Recreational Lockage Fees on the Trent-Severn Waterway
May 14, 2013,
PETERBOROUGH, ON – Dean Del Mastro, Member of Parliament for Peterborough, applauded the announcement made today by the Honourable Peter Kent, Canada’s Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, that recreational lockage fees along Canada’s historic canals will remain frozen for the next three years at 2008 levels.
“I am very pleased that Minister Kent has taken this important step,” stated MP Del Mastro. “I have been working very hard over the past year and a half with my fellow MPs along the Trent-Severn to demonstrate the importance of the Waterway. This issue has been a galvanizing source of community comment and suggestion. We have held public consultations in all our Ridings and we have listened to constituents in our offices, in the streets and on the water. We provided those comments and concerns to the Minister’s Office and I am very pleased that we will continue to have a hand in the future of our Canal system.”
“Since the beginning of our consultation process on canal fees, we have been committed to listening and acting in the best interests of the residents who live, work and visit our canals,” said Minister Kent. “We recognize the importance of canals to Canada’s heritage, the tourism industry and the thousands of people who use them each year. That is why following consultations with Government Members of Caucus who live along the canals, I am pleased to announce that Parks Canada will freeze lockage fees for three years.”
“During this time, Parks Canada and I will work with local Members of Parliament, community leaders and the tourism industry to develop and implement an improved operating model to ensure the long term financial sustainability of the canals operations. These long term solutions will need to address all aspects of the canals operations.”
As part of the long-term financial sustainability of the canals operations, Parks Canada is already considering new visitor opportunities that will benefit a broad range of canals users, and create new sources of revenue, all while maintaining support for our tourism operators and industry.
“This is an excellent start,” stated MP Del Mastro. “But the work is far from over. We need to keep the Trent-Severn Waterway top-of-mind and we need to reflect what it means to our Ridings, to Ontario and to the country. We cannot allow it to fade into the background - it is too important a resource. I look forward to working with the stakeholders, Parks Canada and the community at large to develop an improved operating model that will sustain and grow the Trent-Severn Waterway for the future.”
