BC alarmed over US bill allowing Alaska ships to bypass Canada ports
The latest bill proposal to allow cruise ships to bypass port calls in Canada has enraged the British Columbia cruise industry.
The Tribal Tourism Sovereignty Act was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Alaskan congressman Don Young which wants to give a permanent exemption to federal laws that requires foreign flagged ships to make an international stopover.
A temporary exemption was permitted, called the Alaska Tourism Recovery Act, due to Canada’s Covid ban on cruise ship calls.
"This could be very damaging. We need to take this legislation very seriously," said Ian Robertson, CEO of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority.
Robertson is calling on the local cruise industry to unite ‘to lobby Washington DC to do what we can to make sure this legislation does not get passed.’
"I’d like to see the premier engaged on this issue as it’s important that we need his leadership to ensure that this legislation does not see the light of day."
It would heavily impact stopover ports Victoria, Nanaimo and Prince Rupert, and to a lesser extent the port of Vancouver.
B.C.’s Minister of Transportation said the province is concerned over the bill which would impact about $2.5 billion in revenue that Alaska-bound ships generate.
"We are in the midst of a federal election and we’ll be meeting urgently with whomever forms government next week to get them to engage immediately with the US and assert Canada’s interests in Washington, D.C.," Minister Rob Fleming said.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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