Bus company objects to Membertou application

One objection was filed prior to deadline to an application by Membertou band council to amend its motor carrier licence to carry cruise ship passengers to its Membertou Heritage Park.

Craig Carabin of the bus company Transoverland Ltd. in Reserve Mines filed a letter with the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board indicated it objected to Membertou’s application.

“We have more than enough buses to supply the cruise ship work to all tours including the Membertou Heritage Park, as we need all revenue to service our growing fleet,” he wrote.

The board will now schedule a public hearing into the application.

The application, signed by Chief Terry Paul, was filed with the provincial regulator on April 18.

It notes that the band plans to use a 28-passenger bus to pick up passengers from Sydney’s Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion and transport them to the heritage park “to partake in a cultural experience.” The bus would then return the passengers to the pavilion.

As examples for the sort of activities visitors may participate in during the excursions, the application mentions drum making and a medicine walk. The band doesn’t currently transport cruise ship passengers to Membertou.

Documents filed with the UARB show that the band was granted its motor carrier licence in 2010 to allow for specialty school bus service and specialty irregular restricted area public passenger charter service.

The Membertou Heritage Park opened in 2012.