OTTAWA (Staff) – The governments of Canada and the United States last week said they will work to create greater co-operation between the two countries in managing the St. Lawrence Seaway.
They have created a “working group” of officials to consider ways of reducing seaway operating costs. They are supposed to offer initial ideas to Washington and Ottawa by late September.
The problem of co-ordinating operating policies could become more complex after Jan. 1 when the Canadian government transfers control of Canadian operations to a coalition of seaway users.
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The crown corporation St. Lawrence Seaway Authority will be abolished.
The new operators have pledged to try to keep costs down, but the Canadian seaway will continue to be funded by tolls.
The U.S. side of the waterway is operated by the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp., under the direction of the U.S. transportation department.
It pays costs of the U.S. locks out of general revenues, rather than through user fees.
The two countries will have to figure out if the change in Canadian operating arrangement will make a difference.
Hays will run
Alberta senator Dan Hays says he will run again this autumn for a second term as president of the federal Liberal party.
Hays, a lawyer and rancher, was elected president in 1994. The Liberals meet in their last pre-election convention Oct. 24-27.
During his two years as president, the party’s $4 million 1993 election debt was paid and a fund for fighting the next election was started.
He promises more of the same if re-elected president.
