The navigation to the Tuque is in question

Photo archives / Agence QMI
The Saint-Maurice river.

Louis Cloutier

Thursday, August 3, 2017 19:17

UPDATE
Thursday, August 3, 2017 19:17

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It is possible that recreational boating on the Saint-Maurice river between Grand-Mère and La Tuque does not make long fire.

According to TVA News has learned, the RCM of Mékinac, part of which runs along the river, has decided to cut off the supplies, and not to participate in the financing of the markup in annual corridor navigation of 130 kilometers.

The five-year agreement between several partners including the RCM of Mékinac, due to expire at the end of the season. Members of the MRC believe that the game is not worth the candle because the services to boaters along the route, gasoline, accommodation, meals – are pretty much non-existent.

“There, you are obliged to make a good end, not gasoline. You arrive at La Tuque where this is not yet close enough,” notes the mayor of Grandes-Piles, Daniel Small. The marina of la Tuque is located in an isolated area.

Tourisme Mauricie, which keeps faith in the potential of navigation of the Saint-Maurice, pleads for patience.

“Here, we’re talking about 300 or 350 boats that ride up to La Tuque. The goal is 1000 or even 1500 by the summer that will go up to La Tuque. It’s going to require services and it’s going to be able to support them financially,” explained André Nollet, the director of the agency.

The City of La Tuque, which invests $ 130,000 per year to support the markup, is thinking about the following things.

“We are going to have the statistics and we will analyze it to see if there is a progression and if it is worth continuing,” says the mayor, Normand Beaudoin.

On the 1st of August, 188 boats were hauled up to La Tuque compared to 151 for the same period last year.