For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, February 24, 1999

DOYLE & JOHNSON LEAD DELEGATION TO TORONTO CITY HALL

Monroe County Executive Jack Doyle and Rochester Mayor William A. Johnson, Jr. today will travel across Lake Ontario to meet with Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman and other Canadian officials to discuss the Fast Ferry proposal. County and city officials will meet with their Canadian counterparts and Lake Ontario Fast Ferry officials to discuss the details of the initiative to link the two communities with regular ferry service across the lake.

"The fast ferry concept offers an opportunity to make the Rochester-Toronto link an international gateway," said County Executive Doyle. "Tying our community with Canada’s most populous city would have highly positive trade, tourism and other commercial ramifications for our residents and local employers. Forging ties with our counterparts in the Province of Ontario and the City of Toronto will only strengthen these possibilities."

"This is an exciting opportunity for the City of Rochester," said Mayor Johnson. "Roughly 41 million Canadians visit the United States each year. We want to make sure that Rochester will be an easy, accessible and exciting business and tourist destination that more Canadian citizens will take advantage of. The Fast Ferry will enable this to happen."

Senior officials from both the county and city, including Assistant County Executive Kevin Crerand and Deputy Mayor Jeffrey Carlson, will accompany County Executive Doyle and Mayor Johnson to Toronto. Mayor Lastman is hosting the meeting in the Toronto City Hall.

The county and city are currently working to support regular ferry service by improving infrastructure and other support services surrounding the port area in Charlotte.

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For more information, contact:
428-2380