Nearly fifty people demonstrated in Cap-aux-Meules on Wednesday morning to express their disagreement with the entry into force of the tourist fee.
Many of the demonstrators held up signs to denounce what they described as social control
.
Since the announcement of the entry into force of the Archipel Pass, several Madelinots have decried, on social networks, the possibility of having to prove with an identity document that they indeed reside in the Islands, to be exempt from payment of the fee during potential checks at the airport or on the quay.
Hypocrites, it is social control and not the tax that you want to impose
could we read on a sign.
No to control of the free movement of people
wrote another protester.
The Archipel Pass is a tourist fee of $30 plus taxes which must be paid by visitors aged 13 and over who do not have residence in the Islands and who stay there for more than 24 hours between 1er May and October 14.
Madelinot Claude Bourgeois, who assiduously attends municipal council meetings, was one of the demonstrators.
What bothers me deep in my Madelinot heart is that we have just set a precedent across Canada
he said. This is the first time that we will have to pay to leave a municipality, it has never happened.
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The demonstrators began the demonstration on the quay of Cap-aux-Meules.
Photo: Courtesy
Mr. Bourgeois, who operates a tourist site, also fears for the protection of the personal data of visitors who will have to pay for the Archipel Pass on a virtual platform.
000$, while the credit unions have invested millions of dollars and have been [piratées] anyway.”,”text”:”Is it really safe against [pirates informatiques]? We were told that the platform cost $34,000, while the credit unions invested millions of dollars and were [piratées] anyway.”}}”>Is it really safe against [pirates informatiques]? We were told that the platform cost $34,000, while the credit unions invested millions of dollars and were [piratées] anyway.
Mr. Bourgeois also deplores that the Madelinian diaspora is not exempt from paying the tourist fee.
May”,”text”:”I have two cousins who are coming to bury their mother on May 19″}}”>I have two cousins who are coming to bury their mother on May 19
he explains. Two days later, they will have to pay a good sum of money.
In my Madelinot heart, I am ashamed that we are here, burdening people who come to see their family or bury a loved one with enormous pain.
The demonstration which began around 6 a.m., near the quay, then moved to the town hall.
Mayor Antonin Valiquette also spoke with the demonstrators for a few minutes.
I have taken note of the comments and concerns expressed during this morning’s demonstration, and so has the municipal council
indicated by email Mr. Valiquette, who was not available for an interview.
Information session and delay
Shortly after the demonstration, the Municipality of Îles-de-la-Madeleine announced in a press release the holding of a public information session on Thursday, May 16 at 7 p.m. at the Étang-du-Nord Recreation Center.
During the event, elected officials intend to answer questions related to the Passe Archipel and the creation of the new Sustainable Territorial Management Fund that results from it.
The municipal administration also indicated that the entry into operation of the Passe Archipel virtual payment platform, which was to come into force on 1er may, is postponed for a few days in order to make adjustments and ensure a smooth user experience
.
This platform should allow tourists who stay more than 24 hours in the archipelago between now and October 14 to pay the tourist fee and obtain a QR code serving as proof of payment.
A new date for putting the web tool into service will be communicated soon.
