Canadian cruise requirements are out of control

July 4th, 2014

More than 35 different Canadian authorities require more than 50 different applications and permits from cruise operators before they are allowed to visit Arctic Canada. This keeps cruise operators, visitors and economic activities away from Canada.

Cumbersome, expensive and problematic

This week AECO (the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators) sent an open letter to Canadian stakeholders that are involved with permitting requirements for expedition cruise operators or involved with the political framework behind such requirements. The intention of the letter was to express a concern with the unfortunate fact that the Canadian Arctic is considered one of the most cumbersome, expensive and problematic regions in the world in which expedition cruise operators conduct tourism activities. Canada, as a destination, has a great deal to offer tourists from all over the world and the expedition cruise operators would like to continue to bring guests and economic activity to Canada. But improved cooperation of the Canadian authorities is needed to make this possible.

More than 50 different permits

The list of permitting requirements for cruise operators in Arctic Canada seems to be ever-increasing. The illustrative list below includes 52 different permitting, licensing, clearance, inspection, review, certification, impact, registration and reporting requirements, which Arctic cruise operators might have to adhere to when operating in the Canadian Arctic. Canadian researcher Ph.D. Jackie Dawson, Canada Research Chair in Environment, Society and Policy and Assistant Professor at University of Ottawa is working on article with the premise, “This situation limits economic development and local entrepreneurship opportunities and essentially yet unintentionally undermines some of the work that is being conducted by the same institutions that are implementing the permits.”

Lack of clarity put operators in risk of non-compliance

The current state of affairs and difficulties in obtaining information is a serious concern to all operators. According to Hans Lagerweij, President and CEO of Canadian-based Quark Expeditions,“No Canadian body has been able to provide a complete list of requirements and/or a list of permitting authorities, so operators could easily oversee one or more requirements, which could result in a company unintentionally being non-compliant. This complete lack of clarity is a serious concern for all operators.” According to Lagerweij, one solution could be a central permitting body or office.

Streamlining urgently needed

Frigg Jørgensen, Executive Director of AECO, believes that if this situation is not changed it will lead to a long-term loss of tourism and tourism related business for Canada. “As an organization representing Arctic expedition cruise operators, we strongly urge Canadian authorities to start a process in order to streamline the complex, time consuming, expensive and unclear permitting situation that is the reality in the Canadian Arctic today.” According to Jørgensen, the expedition cruise operators will—if things are not changed—continue to take their business elsewhere as they’ve done in the recent years. She hopes that the Canadian authorities will consult the industry to streamline and possibly even reduce the very high number of requirements and learn from other similar regions such as Greenland and Svalbard.

Responsible, environmentally friendly and safe expedition cruise operations

As an organization, AECO represents its members—approximately 40 international companies that operate almost 30 vessels in Svalbard, Greenland, Canada and the Russian Arctic. Besides a number of Canadian members, AECO has members who have been engaged in expedition cruise tourism in Arctic Canada and other Arctic regions since the 1980s.  AECO is dedicated to ensure responsible, environmentally friendly and safe expedition cruise tourism all over the Arctic. The organization takes the complexities of polar ship operations very seriously and AECO members work diligently to ensure the utmost consideration for local cultures, flora, fauna and cultural artifacts. In order to accomplish this, AECO has developed a number of guidelines that regulate the members’ operations and visitor behavior. Read more about AECO on: www.aeco.no

More Information:

For more information please contact:

• AECO’s Office Manager, Ilja Leo Lang on: +45 26 24 95 92

• Jackie Dawson, Assistant Professor, University of Ottawa, Canada on +1 613 562 5800 (ext.1051)

• Karine Bengualid, Quark Expeditions, Canada, Media Contact on +1 416 645 8417

Related Links:

You can read more about AECO on: www.aeco.no

See AECO’s guidelines for Arctic operations at: https://www.aeco.no/guidelines

Or view AECO’s new Animated Guidelines for Visitors to the Arctic via: https://vimeo.com/97093751

List of Canadian cruise tourism permitting requirements:

It has not been possible to itemize a complete list of requirements from Canadian authorities. The list below is based on information collected from different stakeholders, including cruise operators who are subject to these requirements. The list may not be 100 percent complete and/or correct, as requirements/application forms/procedures and the personnel who deal with these applications change frequently. The list includes permitting, licensing, clearance, inspection, review, certification, impact, registration and reporting requirements. AECO takes the full responsibility for any mistake made here:

  • Business License (Parks Canada)
  • Business License Annual update (NWT Department of Economic Development and Transportation)
  • Business License Annual update (Yukon)
  • Business License Annual update (Nunavut Department of Justice)
  • Guide Permit for each individual staff member (Parks Canada)
  • Firearms Registration (RCMP Iqaluit Detachment, Nunavut)
  • Firearms Registration (RCMP NWT)
  • Firearms Registration (RCMP Whitehorse Detachment, Yukon)
  • Firearms Permit (Parks Canada)
  • Firearms Permit (Nunavut Parks)
  • Visitor Permit (Parks Canada)
  • Film and photo Permit (Parks Canada)
  • Territorial Park Use Permit (Nunavut, Dept. of Environment Parks, Planning and Operations, Nunavut Parks & Special Places Division)
  • Entrance Requirements for National or Territorial Parks, Heritage and Archaeological Sites and Wildlife Sanctuaries (Nunavut Territorial Parks and Heritage Rivers)
  • Register for mandatory NORDREG Reports (Canadian Coast Guard)
  • Access Permit to Inuit Owned Land (Qikiqtani Inuit Association)
  • Access Permit to Inuit Owned Land (Kivalliq Inuit Association)
  • Access Permit to Inuit Owned Land (Kitimeot Inuit Association)
  • Visitor Permits (Environment Canada’s Canadian Wildlife Service)
  • Bird Sanctuary Permits (Environment Canada’s Canadian Wildlife Service)
  • National Wildlife Area Permits (Environment Canada’s Canadian Wildlife Service)
  • Tourist Establishment License (Nunavut Department of Economic Development & Transportation)
  • Tourist Establishment License (NWT Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development)
  • Tourist Establishment License (Yukon Department of Renewable Resources)
  • Tourism Operator’s License (NWT Department of Industry and Investment)
  • Consent of Public Disclosure of Tourism Information (Nunavut Department of Economic Development & Transportation)
  • Certificate of Compliance as an Extra Territorial Corporation (Nunavut Registries)
  • Workers Coverage (possibility) (Workers Safety and Compensation Commission)
  • Labor Market Impact Assessment (formerly Labor Market Opinion) or request for exemption – for each staff member (Toronto Temporary Foreign Worker Unit)
  • Visitors Permit (Nunavut Parks)
  • Coasting Trade License (Transport Canada, Marine Safety)
  • Customs and Immigration Procedures (Canadian Coast Guard)
  • Customs clearance of vessel by the Canadian Boarder Service Agency (CBSA)
  • Cruise Inspection (possibility) (Health Canada)
  • Security Matters under the “Marine Transportation Security Act” (Transport Canada Security)
  • Archaeology permit, Nunavut (Department of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth)
  • Archaeological and heritage sites, NWT (Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre for the Northwest Territories)
  • Contact with Nunavut Impact Review Board in regard to permit requirements such as translation of documents and more might be necessary
  • Application to Determine Conformity with Regional Land use Plan (Nunavut Planning Commission)
  • Entrance requirements into National or Territorial Parks, Heritage and Archaeological Sites and Wildlife Sanctuaries (NWT, Northern Parks & Sites Establishment / Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre for the Northwest Territories)
  • Entry requirements Tuktoyaktuk (Inuvik Region) (NWT Department of Industry, Tourism & Investment)
  • Land Use Application (Inuvialuit Lands) (Government of the NWT, Inuvik Region)
  • Operator License / Day Pass for National Parks (Parks Canada, Inuvik Region)
  • Wilderness Tourism License (Yukon, Wilderness Tourism Licensing Act Registrar)
  • Park Permit (Commercial Recreation) (Environment Yukon)
  • Community visit permits and letters (differs)
  • Inuit Guide Hiring (Inuit Heritage Trust)
  • Reporting of bear encounters (Parks Canada and NWT Dept. of Sustainable Development)
  • Reporting of bear encounters (Parks Canada and Environment Yukon, Whitehorse)
  • Post Visit Reports
  • Accident Report (Environment Yukon)
  • Outfitter License (Nunavut Department of Economic Development & Transportatio

 

The estimated numbers of expedition cruise passengers in Arctic Canada showed in the graph above are:

 

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Passengers 550 1100 1000 1250 750 1200 1150 1200 1650

 

Source: Ph.D. Jackie Dawson, Canada Research Chair and Assistant Professor at University of Ottawa.