Access to the Tadoussac municipal wharf: cruise passengers in court

In 2017, the municipal council of Tadoussac adopted a resolution to lease for 10 years two facades of the municipal wharf exclusively to AML, a major player in the cruise industry. The lease could be extended for another decade, potentially totaling 20 years of exclusivity.

Although small local whale-cruising companies are coping with this decision, it does not suit them as they try to make their mark in the industry.

The number of passengers undoes a deal

In 2018, AML and a local cruise company, Tadoussac Autre, however, concluded an agreement so that the small company could use the wharf under certain conditions. One of these requirements is that the boat used by Tadoussac Otherwise not exceed a capacity of 12 passengers.

However, due to wear and tear, Tadoussac Otherwise changed its boat, the Frank Slim, for the Estuary, a new ship that can accommodate 36 passengers.

AML therefore refuses to share the wharf for the summer season, according to Florent Desrochers, who is the vice-president of Tadoussac Otherwise.

” It’s all these business decisions that are shocking. After 5 years of being told, “well there, little guys, remember you’re only allowed 12 passengers”. »

According to him, he did not have to ask permission from AML to own a bigger boat, since that is his business and his turnover.

The dispute is now before the courts. Tadoussac Otherwise disputes the lease granted by the Municipality to AML. Florent Desrochers believes that it is illegal to grant an exclusive right to municipal property.

The small local company had made a first legal request in 2017 which it had to abandon for lack of financial means, being a very young company, explains Florent Desrochers.

We are not anti-AML, we do not want to have exclusive use, indicates the captain of the Estuary.

” All we want is a place, it’s a moment, it’s an hour, fifteen minutes, a few times a day, to embark and disembark people who want to go whale watching. »

The cruise line is concerned about the possible absence of competitors in the region. If we end up with a monopoly here, well the prices will be able to skyrocket without anyone being able to decide anything.

For its part, AML also turned to the courts to stop the legal proceedings of Tadoussac Otherwise, defending that the delays of these would not be reasonable.

Neither the Municipality of Tadoussac nor AML would comment, but in a court document, lawyers for the cruise line argue that: the decision to build a boat with a larger capacity [est] purely economic and [fait] totally disregard of the User Agreement.

A gateway that saves the company

For now, Tadoussac Otherwise must use the beach to board and disembark its passengers with the help of a small footbridge.

Without this piece of metal, the whale-watching cruise company could no longer be in service, explains Florent Desrochers.

However, although it offers a unique experience to passengers, this approach is really not ideal for Tadoussac Otherwise.

As for the boat, the engine, the propellers, an accident can happen quite quicklylaments Florent Desrochers. We’ve already broken two engines that had eaten too much sand. It’s not in their jobadds the boatman.

A judge’s decision is expected soon in this case. If the court rejects Croisières AML’s request, the lawyer representing Tadoussac Otherwise affirms that his client will continue his legal proceedings to gain access to the municipal wharf.