Sarnia-Lambton MP Marilyn Gladu brought up the Sombra ferry issue during question period at the House of Commons in Ottawa this week.
Gladu says the Prime Minister’s office needs to step up and fund the proposed $2.5 million fix.
@MPMarilynGladu discussing the #Sombra Ferry issue at the House of Commons. Video from Gladu’s Facebook page. pic.twitter.com/t9e8152urk
— Sydenham Current (@SydenhamCurrent) 2 February 2018
“After being refused funding by four Ministers, I escalated to the Prime Ministers Office,” Gladu said on social media on Monday.
“They understand what is needed and the critical timing and they have gone radio silent since Thursday… .no return of emails or phone calls. Please email or mail Justin Trudeau and let him know of the huge impact the shut down of this border crossing will be.”
The Bluewater Ferry remains idle and their dock is now an island in the St. Clair River, after the causeway leading up to their dock and the Canada Border Services Agency office, was destroyed by ice back on January 11.
Reports say government officials were looking at ways to come up with funding by the end of January, so the causeway could be repaired by the middle of March, as no construction can take place between March 15 and the middle of July, due to fish spawning cycles.
The proposed fix would cost an estimated $2.5 million, the latest reports indicate.
Morgan Dalgety, who co-owns the ferry business with Rob Dalgety, says back in 2014 Bluewater Ferry spent $30,000 on preventive maintenance on the causeway.
“18 large white oak spiles were driven in three different clusters north of (the) causeway to try and prevent large ice flows from hitting (it),” he posted on social media.
“In addition 12 large 12” heavy walled steel pipe were driven deep into ground north of causeway to help stop ice. Insurance wasn’t an option.”
Dalgety said for years the freighters would lay up for winter with only an occasional tanker running through the river .
Dalgety said he questions why the Lake Carriers’ Association is being allowed to travel up and down the river, escorted by the Canadian Coast Guard, when the river is completely jammed with ice
“The freighters should lay up or be responsible for damage,” he said.
Officials with the Canadian Coast Guard told the Sydenham Current this week they had no new information about the issue
On January 19, Canadian Coast Guard officials said a sustained blast of Arctic air, that extended from late December into January, rapidly accelerated the formation of ice on the Great Lakes.
“Throughout the week of January 8th gale-force winds from the north flushed a large amount of ice from Lake Huron down the St Clair River,” Canadian Coast Guard officials said.
“To compound the problem weather conditions swung from one extreme to the next, with warm weather loosening ice that was fast against the shore of the upper St. Clair River. That ice was carried further downstream by the high winds.”
Canadian Coast Guard officials say the shipping lane is on the American side of the St. Clair River.
“Icebreakers do not operate near the Sombra Ferry Dock,” Canadian Coast Guard officials said.
“There were many vessels on the water at the time damage was reported to the coast guard, including both a Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker, the CCGS Samuel Risley, and a United States Coast Guard ice cutter. The CCGS Samuel Risley was escorting four American vessels in the St. Clair River to ensure the safe and efficient movement of commercial goods to American industries in the region.”
Canadian Coast Guard officials said the icebreaking they do mitigates a significant flood risk along the St. Clair River, which benefits communities on both sides of the border.
“St. Clair River water levels in flood prone zones have dropped which is credited to joint coast guard ice breaking efforts,” Canadian Coast Guard officials said.
“Icebreaking service from the Canadian and United States coast guards is helping ships moving safely and efficiently through the ice on one of the busiest trans-border shipping lanes in North America, the St. Clair River. The St. Clair River does not shut down in January as stated in media reports. The Welland Canal and the Soo Locks are closed but shipping continues throughout the winter months from Lake Huron to Lake Erie.”
Canadian Coast Guard officials said at the beginning of each season, the Canadian Coast Guard issues public notices to advise of its icebreaking service.
For more information about Canadian Coast Guard icebreaking levels of service, click here.
Canadian Coast Guard officials told the Sydenham Current on January 12 they were reviewing information provided by the manager of the Bluewater Ferry.
Here is some more of our recent coverage on the issue:
– Sombra ferry future in limbo
– Sombra ferry closed indefinitely due to ice damage
Watch for more on this story.
