Quebecers planning to take a ferry during the National Day long weekend may need to rethink their plans.
• Read also: Strike on Quebec ferries on June 21 and 22
• Read also: Threat of strike during the FEQ at the Quebec-Lévis crossing
Due to the strike by certified employees affiliated with the Steelworkers union, several crossings will be canceled and schedules will be modified at five crossings in Quebec.
The crossings of Sorel-Tracy-St-Ignace-de-Loyola, Québec-Lévis, Matane-Baie-Comeau-Godbout, L’Isle-aux-Coudres-Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive and Tadoussac-Baie- Saint Catherine.
The strike will begin at 6 a.m. Friday morning and end at 6 a.m. Sunday morning.
Here is the modified schedule of crossings affected by this strike:
Sorel-Tracy-St-Ignace-de-Loyola
There will be no crossing on Friday June 21 and Saturday June 22.
The last ferry will leave the Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola quay towards Sorel-Tracy at 3 a.m. in the night from Thursday to Friday.
The service will resume at 6:30 a.m. Sunday morning with the crossing from Sorel-Tracy to Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola.
Quebec-Lévis
No crossings will take place on Friday June 21 and Saturday June 22.
The last ferry will leave Quebec, towards Lévis, at 2:20 a.m. on the night of Thursday to Friday.
The crossings will resume on Sunday morning, at 6 a.m., from Lévis.
“Note that there will be an improvement in the evening service to two vessels between 6 p.m. and midnight for the Quebec National Day festivities,” we can read in a press release from the Société des traversiers du Québec (STQ).
Matane-Baie-Comeau-Godbout
The service will be completely interrupted on Friday June 21 and Saturday June 22.
The last crossing will take place on Thursday June 20 at 5:30 p.m. from Baie-Comeau to Matane.
The crossings will resume on Sunday June 23 with a first ferry from Matane to Godbout at 8 a.m.
L’Isle-aux-Coudres-Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive
“Essential services will be provided with a single vessel in service,” indicates the STQ press release.
On Friday June 21, crossings will be made between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m., between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m., between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. and between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.
The STQ specifies that emergency crossings will be provided between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. and that a crossing without passengers will take place at 9 a.m. “for the specific needs of the CLSC and the pharmacy”.
On Saturday, June 22, crossings will take place between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m., between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m., between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., and between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Emergency crossings will also be provided between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. on Saturdays.
Tadoussac-Baie-Sainte-Catherine
Crossings will take place over the weekend, but according to a modified schedule.
From 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., a ship will be in service and departures will be made every two hours from each shore.
From 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., a ferry will be in service and will offer departures every 30 minutes from each shore.
Finally, between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m., two ships will be in service and simultaneous departures will be made every 40 minutes from each shore.
“The STQ is aware that this strike will penalize thousands of Quebecers who will travel throughout Quebec during the Quebec National Day weekend. This is why the STQ is currently doing its utmost to speed up the negotiation process and minimize the impact on customers,” indicates the organization in its press release.
