Media Release | MPP Clark Launches Petition to Support Rideau Canal Tourism Operators

Media Release December 9, 2025

Clark Launches Petition to Support Rideau Canal Tourism Operators
Petition calls on federal government to restore full navigation at Lasalle Causeway in Kingston ahead of 2026 boating season to protect $309 million tourism economy.

QUEEN’S PARK — Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, has launched a petition in support of tourism operators along the Rideau Canal who have been dealt a financial blow by the continued restriction on full navigation at the Lasalle Causeway in Kingston.

MPP Clark tabled the petition at Queen’s Park this week, calling on the federal government to “restore full navigation to the Rideau Canal by installing a structure to enable all marine traffic to pass through the Lasalle Causeway in time for the 2026 boating season, which marks 200 years since the start of construction on the canal.”

“The Rideau Canal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and vital economic driver that contributes $309 million annually to Eastern Ontario. I’ve heard from municipal leaders, businesses, and tourism organizations along the canal who fear another season of disrupted navigation could be devastating to their communities,” said MPP Clark. “Hundreds of businesses and jobs are at stake, yet Public Services and Procurement Canada has not established a timeline, a plan, or even demonstrated they appreciate the urgency of restoring full navigation.”

“Urgency is needed for a permanent solution to fix the Lasalle Causeway bridge to maximize full navigation for increased boater traffic to the many businesses and communities along with the Canal,” said Corinna Smith-Gatcke, Warden of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville. “The Rideau Canal is part of a world UNESCO designated historic site that puts Ontario and Canada on the international tourism map.  As the Canal approaches its 200^th Anniversary, action and investment is needed to fully leverage this commemorative opportunity.”

The federal government installed a temporary fixed bridge that restricted marine traffic through the Lasalle Causeway for this year’s boating season and will continue to do so for an indefinite period. The resulting limitations impacted marinas, shops, restaurants, tourism operators, and seasonal employment along the 202-kilometre historic waterway.