SARNIA, Ont. — The Canadian government is forgiving three quarters of a million dollars in ice-breaking fees owed to it by two ferry lines operating between Southwest Ontario and Michigan, while continuing to leave another American-owned cross-border truck ferry out in the cold.

According to The Sarnia Observer, Ottawa has agreed to not to make the Bluewater Ferry pay the $213,280 it owes the Canadian Coast Guard for ice breaking services. Also, the Walpole-Algonac Ferry Line (which, unlike the Bluewater Ferry, does not carry trucks) is absolved from paying close to half a million dollars.

The Canadian Coast Guard — which exempts the Boblo Island Ferry located on the Detroit River from paying the fees as well — also told the ferries it would continue to provide ice breaking services in the winter when they need it.

The ferry companies expressed relief, saying that the fees threatened their businesses.

Ottawa apparently agrees. An economic impact assessment performed on each company confirmed that the fees were "unjust" and "unreasonable."

Curiously though, the government doesn’t take the same view with the Detroit-Windsor Truck Ferry, which transports trucks and hazmat trailers between those two vital border cities.

It’s owner, Gregg Ward has been battling the Department of Fisheries and Oceans for a decade over what he says are "discriminatory" fees charged to his small business.

Ironically, as Ward explained to us last winter, the large majority of icebreaking services on that part of the Detroit River are provided by the U.S. Coast Guard at no charge to Canada.

But Canada forces him to cough up the cash anyway — over $3,000 to cross the one-mile-wide river.

So, what’s the difference between the Windsor-Detroit Truck Ferry and all the others that get a free ride? Not much, other than its owner is American. But like those other services, Ward keeps a stand-alone Canadian office in Windsor and likewise supports cross-border commerce for Canadian customers.

Regardless, Ottawa won’t back down. In 2005 it went so far as to sue Ward for non-payment of fees. Ward launched a legal appeal. Years have passed, but he says, so far, "we’ve been denied our day in court."

When Today’s Trucking contacted the Canadian Justice Department last December for clarification on its two-tired policy, a spokeswoman said it would be "inappropriate to comment on a case currently before the courts."

When contacted via email this morning, Ward had this to say: "It is interesting the government is now providing local Canadian owned ferries an exemption from the ‘unfair’ and ‘unreasonable’ Icebreaking Services Fees but have yet to include the U.S.-owned Detroit-Windsor Truck Ferry in that waiver.

"Hopefully it is an oversight that will be corrected soon. One would hate to think the government is treating one company differently than others."