Participants in the Pt. Huron Float Down are blown into Sarnia Bay. August 21, 2016 BlackburnNews.com photo by Melanie Irwin.Participants in the Pt. Huron Float Down are blown into Sarnia Bay. August 21, 2016 BlackburnNews.com photo by Melanie Irwin.
Sarnia

MP To Address Float Down Concerns With Immigration Minister

While Port Huron's Float Down fiasco makes international headlines this week, Sarnia-Lambton's MP thinks it's no laughing matter.

1,500 Americans on inflatable rafts and boats landed in Sarnia after drifting across the international border from Michigan during high winds on the St. Clair River.

Marilyn Gladu recognizes the popularity of the event, but says what happened Sunday extremely concerns her.

"I think it shouldn't be allowed. It had so many issues," says Gladu.

Gladu says the reality is that showing up on foreign soil without a passport is illegal.

"You can be put in prison. You can receive a fine and you can have to make your way back to your own country at your own expense. I know people will be taking a look at this event to try and figure out what is the right path forward, but I really think the way it is it can't continue," says Gladu.

"We ended up expending a huge amount of effort. I'm very thankful to police, the coast guard and bus drivers. Eighteen bus loads of people we had to return to the U.S., most of whom didn't have identification. So, I really think the organization should know what they are going to do next year."

Gladu says is planning to address her concerns with Canada's Minister of Immigration and politicians across the river in Michigan.

"We've got a great working relationship and really I know that people enjoy this, but there is an economic cost to people that own properties and are running businesses along the river," she says. "There is a cost to them and when we see the huge cost to taxpayers that this specific one cost, I think we need to do things differently. So we'll have to talk about that."

The Canadian Coast Guard Central and Arctic Region took the lead in coordinating the rescue effort for the unsanctioned event.

Lambton EMS reported only minor injuries, primarily cuts and bruises from people trying to scramble ashore.

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