SS KEEWATIN RELOCATION TO KINGSTON NOT 'IMMINENT'

WHILE A DEAL IS IN PLACE TO RELOCATE THE SHIP TO KINGSTON, THE MOVE ISN'T A FORGONE CONCLUSION, SAY LOCALS

Supporters of the SS Keewatin steamship are refusing to give up hope.

On March 3, the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston and Skyline Investments jointly announced that the ship has been donated to the museum and will soon head east.

Although the Friends of the Keewatin, the charitable organization that's looked after the vessel during its time in Port McNicoll publicly acknowledged the loss of the ship, organizers of the Keep Keewatin Home campaign aren't ready to wave the white flag just yet.

"Simply announcing a move does not constitute an imminent loss of the ship from its home berth here in Port McNicoll, as representatives from the Kingston Marine Museum and the local charity are stating," said campaign lead Dan Travers.

Travers, a local historian, launched a multifaceted campaign aimed at keeping the historic steamship docked in Port McNicoll in January 2021. He said he believes the ship leaving is far from a forgone conclusion and isn't ready to give up.

"Because it involves a multimillion-dollar federal tax break, the Canadian government has a duty to do its due diligence with regard

to the deal .... Should that deal turn out to be not in the best interest of Canadians, we will be waiting."

Adam Chambers, Simcoe North MP and shadow minister for the Canada Revenue Agency, said he will ensure the tax-receipt evaluation is highly scrutinized. He said he doesn't believe it's appropriate for a company to get a windfall tax receipt due to the hard work of local volunteers.

Chambers said the donation is far from a done deal and noted there is still much to be scrutinized before a potential tax receipt is awarded.

The current value of the ship and the size of the tax receipt Skyline Investments is seeking are unknown. However, in 2018, when volunteers were attempting to get the Keewatin moved to Midland, the ship was valued at an estimated $48.3 million. At that time, Skyline Investments was looking for a federal tax receipt for the full evaluation.

Locals are baffled at the idea of potentially spending millions of taxpayers'

dollars to relocate the Keewatin.

"Removing the Keewatin from its home port is heritage appropriation. The notion that this practice can be facilitated by the federal government with dollars coming from the pockets of Canadians is unfathomable," said Travers.

"Why spend millions moving the ship when far less money could be spend restoring the SS Keewatin where it is now in line with existing approved government grants?"

A tax evaluation needs to take place, details regarding how and if the ship is safe to tow to Kingston need to be worked out, and Heritage Canada will have to ensure the Kingston museum can guarantee the ship is safely preserved and cared for before it can leave.

"If any one of these conditions cannot be met, then Heritage Canada has a responsibility to invalidate this deal and look to the vessel's hometown for better options," stated Travers.