IMPENDING NEW CANADIAN CONTRACT FOR NIAGARA FALLS BOAT SERVICE COULD PUT MAID OF THE MIST ON THE AMERICAN SIDE OUT OF BUSINESS - SENATOR PUSHES CANADIANS NOT TO LET NEW CONTRACT RUIN AMERICAN ACCESS TO THE FALLS
Currently, Maid of The Mist Runs Boat Service Starting On Both American & Canadian Sides Of The Falls, But Canada May Offer Contract To New Company In Just A Few Weeks
Under Current Arrangement, U.S. Maid Of The Mist Can Dock On Canadian Side - Necessary Because Physical Space on American Side Is Limited - But A New Contract Could Prevent American Boats From Docking in Canada, Effectively Stopping Tour Service
Schumer to Ontario Premier: Regardless of Which Boat Operator Wins the Canadian-Side Contract, Access for All to Key Canadian-Side Boat Storage and Docking Must Be Preserved To Ensure American Service Is Protected Under Any New Contract
Last week, with a decision on a Canadian-side Niagara Falls tour boat contract pending, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called on Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty to pledge to preserve access to critical Canadian-side boat docks and storage for the American side contractor, regardless of which entity is awarded the contract. This is necessary to preserve the Maid of the Mist tour service on the American side of Niagara Falls, which currently operates on both sides of the border.
Currently, the Maid of the Mist's American and Canadian companies are contracted to operate tour boats on both sides of the falls, but the Canadian contract is up for review. Due to limitations of the land formation, the boats that provide access to the Falls on the American side are docked on the Canadian side, as the company's arrangement currently allows. If the Niagara Parks Commission chooses to award the contract to another boat company, the Maid of the Mist would no longer have the ability to ensure space for American boats to be docked and serviced on the Canadian side, putting the American-side tours in jeopardy. In order to ensure that tourists on the American side can take boat rides on the river up close to the Falls, Schumer urged Premier McGuity to ensure that American boats can dock in Canada regardless of the company chosen to service trips from the Canadian side.
"There is nothing quite like seeing Niagara Falls up close and in person from the river itself," said Schumer. "We can't let that proud and profitable tradition vanish into the mist, which is why I'm asking our Canadian neighbors to ensure that we preserve boat tours on both sides of the Falls. Whether the Niagara Parks Commission goes with Maid of the Mist or another competitor, Maid of the Mist's American boats must absolutely be allowed to continue docking on the Canadian side - there is just no way to build dry docks on the American side. I'm strongly urging our friends in Canada to be good-faith partners in this effort, so that tourists on both sides can see the spectacular Falls from the Niagara River itself."
The Niagara Parks Commission, part of the government of Ontario, is expected to decide within six weeks which company will receive a 25 year lease to operate tour boats out of the Canadian side. Thanks to the fact that the American and Canadian subsidiaries of the same company have executed the contracts on both sides, the Maid of the Mist's American boats have been able to dock in Canada. If the Canadian contract is awarded to another company, this arrangement could be placed in jeopardy, as the American boats would have no place to dock between trips or be serviced as needed. Losing access to boat trips on the American side could be a serious damper to tourism in Niagara Falls. To ensure that the city and state don't lose tourism dollars during a disruption in American service, Schumer is asking the Canadian government to ensure that any company that takes over the Canadian contract continues to provide American boats access to the infrastructure they need in Canada.
A copy of Senator Schumer's letter to Premier McGuinty and the Niagara Parks Commission appears below:
Dear Premier McGuinty:
I am writing to you today to request that you help me preserve a 166 year old bi-national tourist attraction. Since 1846 tourists to the Niagara Falls region have been able to enjoy a unique view of the Horseshoe, American and Bridal Veil Falls from tour boats traveling through the Niagara River. I would like you to join me in working to ensure this experience remains possible for tourists on both sides of the Canada-US border.
As you know, the Niagara Parks Commission has been actively reviewing various proposals for a tour boat service in the Niagara River. As the review and selection process moves forward I respectfully request that you take every effort to ensure that the final proposal does not exclude the ability to continue an American based tour service.
For decades the American based Maid of the Mist Corporation and its Canadian subsidiary Maid of the Mist Steamboat Co., have operated both the American and Canadian tour services. This partnership was critical because the only suitable location for dry-docking, storage, and repair of these tour boats is on the Canadian side of the falls. This partnership is also important for safety on the River - by having only one operator for both the American and Canadian services communication and river logistics are made far easier.
If the Niagara Parks Commission decides to award the Canadian based contract to a new operator, space for the American based service would still be needed on the Canadian side of the River. The Maid of the Mist Corporation has a long term contract with the New York State Office of Parks and Recreation to provide the American based tour service and given the unique geography of the River that service relies on the ability to dry-dock, store, and repair boats on the Canadian side of the river.
In order to ensure tourists visiting the American side of the Falls can continue to have this experience, the US based operator needs space on the Canadian side of the Falls. This space will allow whoever is operating the American based tour service access to the needed infrastructure. If the ability to dry-dock, store, and service the American based boats on the Canadian side of the falls is eliminated, the tourism industry in Niagara Falls, New York would be devastated.
The original Maid of the Mist ferry in 1846 serviced both sides of the border and since that day efforts have been made to ensure that visitors to both sides of the Falls have the unique opportunity to view one of our shared natural treasures. Please make every effort to ensure that we continue this historic tradition and instruct the Niagara Parks Commission to consider the critical infrastructure needs of both the American and Canadian based tour services.
Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to working with you in an effort to protect this historic attraction.