The municipalities of the Rainy River District are calling on the government to ensure whoever takes control of the Fort Frances-International Falls Bridge in the future will keep it safe, up-to-date and open for use by the people of the region.
The bridge was one part of the business session of the Rainy River District Municipal Association (RRDMA) AGM held on Saturday, with municipal leaders receiving and discussing a motion put forward by the Town of Fort Frances following news that Resolute Forest Products, owner of the Canadian portion of the bridge, would be considering selling it. In the motion the town calls on Transport Canada to hold the new owners of the bridge to task over it remaining safe for long-term use, as well as fixing a ceiling on tolls, requiring favourable tolls for local residents and Indigenous communities, and a plan to lower tolls over the long-term. It also calls for the new owners to create an asset management plan for the bridge, including a management fund, with the directive that such funds be transferred to future owners in the event of another sale.
While Township of Morley councillor Maria Vandenbrand expressed doubts surrounding the motion, likening it to a “witch hunt,” Fort Frances councillor Douglas Judson stressed the motion is instead intended to ensure that whoever winds up in possession of the bridge in the future is held up to certain standards that will continue to benefit the people of the district, and is capable of meeting those standards in the first place.
“The purpose of this resolution is largely to ensure that whatever approval is conferred over the transaction – and there already is an agreement to sell the bridge between the two parties – puts in place conditions that are in the community and public interest of residents here,” Judson explained.
“The residents of the town of Fort Frances have been very clear and consistent that this isn’t just a Fort Frances bridge, it’s a Rainy River District bridge. It conveys traffic and economic goods all across Northwestern Ontario and serves a region the size of France. It’s really important that the government put in place those conditions.”
Judson also noted that some of the concerns that the motion is intended to deal with go back to public comments Resolute has made in the past regarding the use of high toll fees collected for bridge use, pointing out the business alleged those tolls would be going towards upkeep and maintenance of the bridge, and now seem poised to walk out of the district with those fees still in hand.
“Lo and behold, as with many of Resolute’s investments in the community, when the going gets tough, they get going and we hold the bag,” Judson said.
“That’s where we are with the International Bridge; it’s changing hands while the toll revenue walks out the door.”
Fort Frances councillor Mike Behan noted that the section of the motion pertaining to the asset management plan and fund for the bridge is the key component of the motion.
Atikokan councillor Brian Stimson said they were concerned that the motion would put the financial burden of necessary repairs onto the new owners of the bridge, something they said was “unfair,” and added they felt Resolute should be held responsible for the repairs.
Township of Alberton reeve Mike Ford said he was concerned with exerting political pressure on a private business enterprise. Judson replied that the motion is only intended to ask the government to hold the owners of the bridge accountable through already existing regulations and laws.
“We’re asking government to make sure they understand there’s a critical role for this bridge in our community,” Judson said.
“If we’ve gotten any taste over the past two years of what it’s like when the bridge isn’t available and people can’t enter northwestern Ontario… this is really about protecting all the other small and private businesses that depend on the bridge. That’s what the resolution intends to accomplish.”
