Sault fights back against Parks Canada lockage fees

Parks Canada has a fight on its hands if it thinks it's going to start charging lockage fees at the Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site.

Eileen Headrick, past chairperson of the Save the Locks campaign and Colleen J. Bennett, past president of the Friends of the Sault Canal, are both mobilizing opposition to the plan, revealed in a SooToday.com article last weekend.

"We are the taxpayers which employ the public servants and keep the lights on at this site, why should we be made to pay twice?" says Headrick.

"Parking fees are also on the table as a revenue generator for our site. However, people will not be parking to watch a lock sit idle, while all the pleasure craft operators enjoy free lockage on the American side," adds Bennett.

Here are two letters we received today from Bennett and Headrick:

************************************************************ Major local tourist attraction in jeopardy

A $12 million local attraction will be fighting for its life, once again.

I’m speaking about our Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site owned and operated by Parks Canada, affectionately known as "our locks."

We lost our lock in 1987 and with its closure, our tourist attraction, also stagnated.

Through the local efforts of a few dedicated people, spearheaded by Eileen Headrick, it took 11 years to have "our lock" back as one of Sault Ste. Marie’s major attractions.

If Superintendent Sharon Ostberg, of Parks Canada gets her way, she will implement lockage fees this coming season.

Parking fees are also on the table as a revenue generator for our site.

However, people will not be parking to watch a lock sit idle, while all the pleasure craft operators enjoy free lockage on the American side.

The American Tour Boat Operators and our local Sault Lock Tours Captain, John Chomniak has already gone on record about boycotting our lock, if these fees are introduced and implemented.

Right off the start, we will have lost 100,000 tourists, from the U.S. side alone.

Plus all the Canadian lock tour visitors.

These tourists who would have enjoyed our canal system and been told our history by the boat operators, now will never hear about our history.

Even if 10 percent of the U.S. tour boat tourists came across to visit Canada, our site, our city, motels, restaurants, gift shops, malls or casino and we lose them, tourism will be taking a huge hit.

We were recognized by past ministers as having a unique situation with the close proximity to a free U.S. lock system and thereby forgiven any lockage fees.

What has changed? Not the geography. The negative publicity and loss of tourism cannot be worth the estimated $15,000 of funds generated by lockage that the superintendent expects. Parking fees of folks wanting to watch, close up how the lock system works, as I see it, could generate revenue.

People can actually stand on or walk across lock gates, an experience not duplicated by our neighbours.

As a past president of the Friends of the Sault Canal, one of our projects was to create period costumes, hats etc… for the Parks Canada Heritage Presentation staff to use to tell the history of our site.

Visitors on those tour boats have been treated to glimpses of staff and volunteers walking up & down the lock walls in these costumes.

Only through the visual intrigue of these occurrences and a huge beaver called Boomer, which delighted children & adults alike, was our history then represented verbally & visually.

One of the statements often said by the American Tour Boat Operators was "Come and visit the Friendly Lock."

I wonder what will be said about us in 2004. Please help us save our lock once again and speak up.

Don't let this lockage fee get bulldozed through the system.

Let us remain "The Friendly Lock."

Call your M.P., alderman, Chamber of Commerce, E.D.C., Mayor’s office, write letters to the editor.

Let our collective voices be heard, until someone recognizes the tourism impact that this lockage fee will create.

Colleen J. Bennett

Past President of the Friends of the Sault Canal

************************************************************* All for Naught

We had a dream.

A dream of an active tourist attraction land and water based, at our Parks Canada site.

Our dream is now at risk. Visitors and locals alike have had the pleasure of enjoying what our locks offer, from the beautifully restored Superintendents Residence building, to watching an operational locking system work.

Our motto for the Sault Canal is and still remains Take my hand, Walk through time, The Sault Canal, A friend of mine.

Many seniors and visitors reminisce and enjoy visiting and reliving past events, which were significant to them as individuals at the canal.

Anything from quiet walks, lost in thought, locking through on a vessel or taking some fantastic scenic pictures on the grounds, at no charge.

In today’s times, incomes are fixed and as the cost of living escalates, how can Superintendent Sharon Ostberg justify restricting our freedom of access in any form?

After all, we are the taxpayers which employ the public servants and keep the lights on at this site, why should we be made to pay twice?.

If you agree with my concerns please call your alderman, M.P.’s and send letters to the editor.

Don’t expect that someone else will speak for you.

Your opinion counts we need to hear from you!

Eileen Headrick

Past Chairperson of the "Save the Locks" Campaign & Past member of the Friends of the Sault Canal

*************************************************************