Rivière-du-Loup crossing: a move would be catastrophic for businesses

The relocation of the ferry, which would be announced next week, would have catastrophic consequences on the economic vitality of Rivière-du-Loup, say the local merchants, who are ready to tear up their shirts to maintain this service.

“It has to stay here and it will stay here. Otherwise, it will be the start of the war and we will bring out the cannons,” says Gilles Lortie, owner of the Hôtel Universel, demonstrating the importance of the issue for business people, who risk heavy losses. .

Met by The Journaleconomic stakeholders explain that the departure of the ferry would be like “losing an arm or a leg”, since the City is a crossroads due to its proximity to highways 20 and 85, Route 132 and the ferry between Rivière- du-Loup and Saint-Siméon.

“Look at what has developed around the crossing and the crossroads, it’s 1,500 rooms for a town of 20,000 [habitants]it’s the highest number per person in Quebec,” indicates Marc-Antoine Côté, co-owner of the Auberge de la Pointe.

Drop in ridership

For someone who is also co-owner of the Bellevue Motel located a stone’s throw from the ferry, it is obvious that without the ship, the attendance rate would drop.

“In summer, there are 800 cars per day [qui transitent par le bateau]. It’s not difficult to see that the impact would be major,” he adds.

According to the former mayor of Rivière-du-Loup and former provincial minister Jean D’Amour, transferring the ferry to Cacouna would be a disaster for the local economy.

«[Ce serait] the worst slap the community of Rivière-du-Loup will receive[it] had in his existence,” he said.

The remains

Moreover, restaurateurs are also worried about the consequences of such a decision.

Charles Pomerleau, who owns the St-Hubert restaurant in the ferry sector, points out that the ship’s arrival time dictates the employees’ schedule.

“We know when the boat returns, we keep extra servers because we know it will create additional traffic. […] It’s the same thing for our motel. There is often a queue to get a room,” confides the man who is also president of Tourisme Rivière-du-Loup.

Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault will be in Rivière-du-Loup next Thursday for an important announcement.

According to Quebec Liberal Party MP Monsef Derraji, the government will confirm the move of the facilities to Cacouna.

A crossing with significant impacts

Depending on April to January

On average

• 15 M$ in economic impact per year
• 70 000 vehicles per year
• 140 000 passengers per year
• 800 vehicles per day in summer
• 115 ans of history (founded in 1909)
• 1962 the year of construction of the NM Trans Saint-Laurent

Strong reactions

• “It’s obvious that Rivière-du-Loup is going to lose weight. In 10 years, you will come and see the damage.”
  Pascal Gagnon, co-owner of the restaurant L’Intercolonial and president of Espace Centre-ville.
• “Rivière-du-Loup is an exceptional destination for conferences. Losing the crossing would be a total lack of respect for the government.”
  Gilles Lortie, owner of the Hôtel Universel
• “With uncertainty surrounding the crossing, investors are on edge brakes.»
  Marc-Antoine Côté, co-owner of the Auberge de la Pointe