Iles-de-la-Madeleine pauses mandatory $30 visitor fee, citing logistical issues
Quebec’s Îles-de-la-Madeleine says it won't charge a mandatory $30 fee for visitors travelling to the archipelago, citing logistical issues for the system some said infringed on people's freedom to travel within the country.
But the municipality says it’s not backing off from the idea of collecting funds from tourists to help maintain infrastructure and protect the environment. Instead, it said Tuesday in a news release it will "appeal to visitors' honour" and ask that they make a voluntary contribution, at least for this year.
A spokesperson for the municipality told The Canadian Press the decision came down to "operational reasons" — lacking the capacity to verify if tourists paid the $30 fee when flying out from the islands.
The news release said the municipality was "still in negotiations with Transport Canada on the operational plan" to impose the tourist fee.
In April, Îles-de-la-Madeleine Mayor Antonin Valiquette said the fee was necessary because the 60,000 annual tourists are burdening local services and straining existing municipal revenue for the archipelago of roughly 13,000 residents located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
“Let's be clear. We're not backing away from the notion of contribution,” Valiquette told a news conference on Tuesday. “But since we're pioneers in this area, it's normal to adjust during this first year.”
When the municipality announced it would impose a tourist fee between May 1 and Oct. 14 for domestic and international travellers who stay on the islands for more than 24 hours, islanders were concerned the plan would infringe on the freedom of Quebecers and other Canadians to travel within their own country.
As part of the original plan, individuals who failed to comply risked a $1,000 fine.
While Valiquette said that “positive messages have poured in” from the public, he added the municipality has also received “inappropriate, sometimes hateful comments” as well as “unverified information that has sidetracked the debate and degraded the archipelago's social climate.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 14, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard found not guilty of sexual assault
Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard has been found not guilty of sexually assaulting a young woman in northeastern Ontario eight years ago. The former Hedley frontman had pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.
Police arrest Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides
Police have arrested a Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides and investigators say that they believe two of the victims may have been 'randomly targeted.'
Missing B.C. climber died from fall on Mount Baker, medical examiner says
The body of a British Columbia mountain climber has been located and recovered after the 39-year-old man was reported missing during a solo climb on Washington state's Mount Baker earlier this week.
Following child's death in Ontario, here's what you need to know about rabies and bats
An Ontario child died last month after coming into contact with a rabid bat in their bedroom, which was the first known human rabies case in Canada since 2019.
A French judge in a shocking rape case allows the public to see some of the video evidence
A French judge in the trial of dozens of men accused of raping an unconscious woman whose now former husband had repeatedly drugged her so that he and others could assault her decided on Friday to allow the public to see some of the video recordings of the alleged rapes.
Former Colorado county clerk Tina Peters sentenced to 9 years for voting data scheme
A judge ripped into a Colorado county clerk for her crimes and lies before sentencing her Thursday to nine years behind bars for a data-breach scheme spawned from the rampant false claims about voting machine fraud in the 2020 presidential race.
Anne Hathaway confirms 'Princess Diaries 3': 'Miracles happen'
You might be thinking, 'Shut up!' but it’s officially true: the 'Princess Diaries' franchise is finally growing.
Youth pleads guilty to manslaughter in death of P.E.I. teen Tyson MacDonald
A teen charged with the murder of another teen on Prince Edward Island last year has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
Sask. man pleads guilty in U.S. after unknowingly providing videos of men raping toddlers to FBI agent
A Saskatchewan man living in the United States has pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography after he unknowingly provided disturbing videos to an FBI agent he thought was a pedophile.