Summerside mayor pitches city as potential home for solar boat business

The mayor of Summerside is trying to convince the owner of a Canadian solar boat-building business to set up shop in his city.

Currently, the Tamarack Lake Electric Boat Company imports components from China and assembles them at a facility in New York State.

Mayor Bill Martin has asked the owner — Monte Gisborne — to consider shifting the assembly operation to Summerside.

The mayor says the low Canadian dollar is one of the selling points.

"If you can assemble these boats in Canada and all of your costs are in Canadian dollars, you've almost got a 40 per cent incentive to do it right there, because you're going to continue to sell them in U.S. dollars," explained Martin.

Martin heard about Gisborne because the boat builder is working on a 3-month project refurbishing a solar water taxi in North Rustico.

The mayor met with Gisborne Wednesday, and is interested in the proposal.

He has said he will give an answer soon, hopefully in two weeks, according to the mayor.

Martin believes the company could potentially qualify for federal, provincial and city subsidies, depending on what facility he set up and how many people he wanted to hire in Summerside.