Maid of the Mist Boats Future in Jeopardy

I just can't imagine visiting Niagara Falls without seeing the Maid of the Mist boats shuttling tourists back and forth to the base of the falls to experience the power of one of the world's great wonders.  But the operator's lease has expired and Canadian authorities are considering other uses for the property the company uses to launch the boats. 

The Maid of the Mist boats have been operating for 126 consecutive years, but a question about launching rights has come up.  They've never been put out to bid before and Canadian officials want a formal bidding process to allow the highest bidder to get the lease.  It makes sense.  A decision on whether to extend the lease for the current operator for another 25 years is six weeks away.