Friday’s announcement by Federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau isn’t what Quebec cruise ship operators were hoping for. Passenger ships with overnight accommodations and a capacity of more than 100 people will be prohibited from operating in Canada until at least November, Garneau said.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau explained the move is an extension of a decision made in March amid the novel coronavirus pandemic to protect the country’s coastal communities.
Peak cruise ship season in Quebec is September and October. And while Friday’s news didn’t come as complete surprise to cruise ship operators, some expressed their disappointment. “I wouldn’t say it’s a disaster, but it’s close to that word,” said René Trépanier, Croisières du