Town of Amherstburg makes public statement on Boblo ferry service

The Town of Amherstburg emerged from an in-camera meeting Monday night with a public statement regarding the Boblo Island ferry service.

Service disruptions, some that have lasted for days, have left residents frustrated and town council worked with its legal counsel regarding the contractual obligations by the developer and operator of the ferry service.  

The public statement, read in part by Mayor Michael Prue Monday night, said the particulars of the legal advice received is confidential pursuant to the Municipal Act, “council has communicated its concerns about the sufficiency and reliability of the ferry service to the developer” and the town wanted to provide an update to the community.

The town cites “several development agreements” between the developer, the town and Boblo residents and maintains “the developer is responsible for ferry service to the island. The ferry services are required to meet the specific standards set out in its agreements with the Boblo Island residents and property owners.”

According to the public statement from the town, the town notes that the developer operates two ferries – the Columbia V (“Little Ferry” and the Ste. Claire V “Big Ferry” – and the Big Ferry is currently in service while the Little Ferry has been out of service since Oct. 2023. 

“The town is advised that this circumstance is due to the expiry of the necessary safety certificate from Transport Canada for the Little Ferry. This has resulted in service disruptions in October-November 2023 and January 2025. A prior service disruption also occurred in December 2022,” the statement reads.

It is alleged by the municipality that “the town has assessed that the developer is not meeting its legal obligations to the Town with respect to these contractual duties. There may be additional legal obligations owed by the developer to which the Town is not party, including Boblo Island residents and/or property owners.” 

The statement further reads: “Council has directed that the developer be formally apprised of the Town’s interests and its legal position, and to require the developer to outline the immediate steps to rectify this situation to the satisfaction of the Town.”

The Town of Amherstburg adds it is “not in a position to advance or comment on any legal rights that the residents or property owners may have directly, but is concerned by the need of all community members to have reliable service to and from the island. That includes the Town’s overall interest in ensuring emergency personnel and other municipal services have reliable access to the island.”

The next steps the town says it is taking include continuing to engage with the developer and monitor the ferry service.

The Town of Amherstburg further stated Monday that it “will consider its formal legal remedies when and if it becomes clear that this is the only means of resolving the reliability issues” it claims that exists.   The statement further adds: “The Town encourages residents who may have questions about their own specific rights with respect to the ferry service to consider seeking advice on their own account, as the Town is not in a position to speak to these matters.”

“The Town understands the importance of safe and reliable ferry service for the residents of Boblo Island and other members of the Amherstburg community. The Town is committed to ensuring the developer meets his obligations in a timely and co-operative fashion.”

The service is run by the Amherstburg Ferry Company, which operates under the umbrella of Amico.

The River Town Times has reached out to Amico and its vice president Cindy Prince for comment but has not heard back as of press time.

In a 2023 presentation to town council, Prince stated Amico doesn’t guarantee ferry service as residents know “ferry service may be disrupted due to, but not limited to, weather conditions, mechanical breakdowns, work stoppages, river conditions, etc.”

Its Amherstburg Ferry Company arm “shall not be responsible for alternate transportation arrangements” or any losses or damages by a lack or delay in ferry services, she noted during that previous meeting.

“We are fully acknowledging to purchasers there may be days the service doesn’t run,” said Prince. 

During that same meeting, Prince stated the development agreement with the town is being followed “to the letter” and that Amico has incorporated many of the suggestions of the Amherstburg Fire Department and then-chief Bruce Montone. 

Town of Amherstburg makes public statement on Boblo ferry service

By Ron Giofu