Ottawa – Gord Brown, Member of Parliament for Leeds-Grenville, today praised the efforts of politicians and officials on both sides of the border who worked to ensure tourists would not have to pay the new $5.50 U.S. landing fee imposed by the US government.

U.S. Congressman Bill Owens confirmed today that the $5.50 fee will not apply to land travellers, boaters or people on tour boats or ferries who cross the international border.

“I have worked with Congressman Owens on a number of issues and this one was causing a great deal of concern for businesses on both sides of the border,” explains Brown.

In a recent free trade agreement with a South American country, the U.S. government added the landing fee regulation. Leeds-Grenville tour boat operators and others who regularly cross the border were concerned that it would negatively affect their business. Some operators stated that they would no longer travel to the U.S.

“Our government and the Canada-U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Group, of which I am c-chair, immediately began lobbying our American counterparts,” explains Brown.

At the same time, U.S. representatives such as Congressman Owens explained how devastating the fee will be to the tourism industry on both sides of the border.

This has resulted in the clarification announced today, explains Brown.