Victoria harbour CEO concerned with Alaska cruises bypassing B.C.

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VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) — The CEO of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority is worried now that U.S. lawmakers are one step closer to letting cruise ships bypass B.C. on their way to Alaska.

A longstanding U.S. federal law requires large cruise ships bound for Alaska to stop in Canada or start their trips there. With Canada forbidding any cruise operations through next February, the law threatened to eliminate any chance that Alaskan voyages could resume this year. The House on Thursday passed a measure that, in effect, waives that requirement until Canada lifts its ban on cruising.

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Ian Robertson says seeing a cruise season set to commence in this manner is “bittersweet.”

“I’m happy, I am genuinely happy for the ports in Alaska, they’ve just been absolutely devastated by this, but it’s going to be tough to know that for the first time in history ships will leave Seattle, travel to Alaska, and they won’t make their stop in Victoria.”

He would like to see ships at least stop in B.C. ports to refuel, saying that would ease his worry that the move could become permanent.

“That’s why we are calling upon the premier to advocate to Ottawa for the allowing of technical calls, which means that a ship would be able to come alongside here in Victoria and tie up, while no passengers would get on or off, or crew. That would certainly take away and alleviate any risk,” he says.

“I can understand the government’s concern around ships coming in, and people getting off the ships, and being able to mingle within downtown Victoria. I understand that concern, but in this situation, where all of the passengers, many of them are vaccinated, and there’s no passengers getting on or off — the risk to the Canadian public is extremely low.”

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Robertson says the chances of the change becoming permanent are slim, but he also says mere months ago the law that passed Thursday seemed unlikely.

“Yes, the probability of this waiver becoming permanent legislation is low. However, if it were to happen, it could be quite serious for Victoria, the consequences would be serious,” he says.

“Quite frankly, I don’t think we can take it complacently. I think we have to take it seriously.”

In a statement, B.C.’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport says the waiver is designed to be temporary, and will automatically lift when Canada ends the ban on cruises.

“The legislation is clear that the changes would be automatically rescinded when Canadian ports are reopened to cruise ships,” it reads.

“The provincial government shares a common a desire with the people of Alaska to see a safe return to the cruise ship industry to the benefit of both of our regions.”

Robertson says feedback from cruisers shows they enjoy the stop in Victoria, and he looks forward to welcoming back the boost to the economy when ships can dock in Canada again.

“We’ve done, I think, a very good job here with Victoria, with selling the value of Victoria. So I’m hoping that that will continue, and the cruise lines and passengers will want to continue to come here.”

Cruise ships are estimated to contribute more than $2.5 billion to the province’s economy.

With files from the Associated Press

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