MPP calls on feds to restore causeway access to marine traffic

Steve Clark launches petition demanding full Rideau Canal navigation restored.

Steve Clark is launching a petition urging the federal government to restore full navigation at Kingston’s Lasalle Causeway before the 2026 boating season, warning that continued restrictions threaten the Rideau Canal’s $309-million tourism economy.

The MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands-Rideau Lakes tabled the petition at Queen’s Park, calling on Ottawa to install a structure that would allow all marine traffic to pass through the causeway. He noted that 2026 marks 200 years since construction began on the UNESCO-designated waterway.

Clark says communities along the 202-kilometre canal fear another season of blocked navigation. He warns that “hundreds of businesses and jobs are at stake” and criticized Public Services and Procurement Canada for not providing a timeline or plan.

Corinna Smith-Gatcke, Warden of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, says urgent action is needed, adding that the canal’s anniversary represents a major tourism opportunity for Ontario and Canada.

A temporary federal bridge continues to restrict boat traffic, affecting marinas, restaurants, tourism operators and seasonal workers across Eastern Ontario.