Amico has responded to the ferry situation on Boblo Island as residents say the company is failing to meet its legal obligations.
Earlier this month, the developers Boblo Island were served notice by the Town of Amherstburg stating that the town believes the company is failing to meet legal obligations regarding ferry service.
Amico Properties owns the island and is also responsible for the Amherstburg Ferry Company.
Amico Vice-President Cindy Prince told AM800 News, “I can advise that the Amherstburg Ferry Company operates in compliance with all Transport Canada regulations”.
Transport Canada says its regulations do not require operators to have a certified backup at all times, and that the decision to have a backup ferry lies with operators.
However, Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue, who also lives on the island, said Transport Canada regulations are not the issue at hand, and adds Amico is failing to address that.
“The issue for the town is in the absence of a second ferry boat, when the first one goes down, we cannot the deliver the services that we are required by law to deliver, and we cannot gaurantee the safety of the people on the island in case there’s a fire, in case they need the police, in case there’s a heart attack,” Prue told AM800 News.
As a condition of development of Boblo Island, the town says it secured two specific legal commitments to protect the interests of the community.
- Transport Canada Right: The ferry service must at all times meet the requirements of the Ministry of Transportation and the safety standards of Transport Canada, including the relevant certification requirements.
- Town Services Right: The ferry service must be provided at no cost and whenever required by the town for administrative, maintenance, emergency, police, and fire personnel purposes.
He says as far as he’s aware, Amico has not yet responded to the town.
“We’re giving them time to get the second ferry in operation,” said Prue. “There are two ferries that he owns that are in dry dock, one in LaSalle, and one in Wheatley, and he just has to do the necessary repairs, get them on the water and he will be in compliance. We are waiting for that.”
Prue is referring to owner Dominic Amicone, and said the town would still like some sort of acknowledgement.
“If [Amicone] says it’ll be on the water in another two or three weeks, or six weeks, that would show good faith, we’re waiting for that.”
Transport Canada says the main ferry, Ste. Claire V, which provides service between Amherstburg and Boblo, was inspected in July 2024 and currently holds a valid operating certificate.
They state the additional ferry, Columbia V, does not currently hold an operating certificate and is not permitted to operate until it meets all Transport Canada certification requirements.
— Dustin Coffman/AM800 News
