Smooth sailings
It’s been a ‘large’ week on Prince Edward Island. Lobster fishermen made their first haul on Monday amid high hopes for good catches and a strong shore price. Close to 1,000 fishermen set traps without incident last Saturday as the spring season got underway.
While lobster boats bobbed back and forth along our shores, a much larger vessel started sailings on Monday. The MV Confederation began plying the waters between Wood Islands and Caribou, N.S. to launch another season for Northumberland Ferries Ltd.
Everyone is hoping that the problems which plagued the service last year are a thing of the past. The Holiday Island was delayed in drydock most of the summer, leaving just the Confederation in service during the busiest time of the summer tourism season. With big numbers expected for Canada’s 150th birthday celebrations, we need both vessels running smoothly.
Reduced crossings in 2016 caused havoc for eastern P.E.I. businesses, tourists and travellers alike. Tourist operators took a big loss, while the company was subjected to an endless stream of criticism.
There is good news. The March federal budget provided long-term, stable funding for the NFL service. After a series of short-term deals, the five-year commitment is welcome news.
The Holiday Island rejoined the service last September and is ready to sail by late June once crossings increase to accommodate higher traffic volumes. Two ferries are essential to provide the level of service that such a busy transportation link demands. There is too much at risk — an estimated $27 million a year to P.E.I.’s economy, and the transporting of some 475,000 passengers and 18,000 commercial trucks annually. The service provides employment for more than 200 employees.
A ferry task force — proposed last fall in the P.E.I. legislature — is working on its report, due June 1. It’s a virtual certainty the task force will recommend a new ferry. The Holiday Island is more than 45 years old and nearing the end of its lifespan. The Confederation is almost 25 years old. It’s essential that Ottawa commit to a new ferry without further delay. Breakdowns on the two vessels will only increase due to age and use.
Today’s traveller demands modern comforts and sailing dependability on this crucial transportation link. The Holiday Island is traffic-efficient — probably the kindest description one can muster. The Confederation, although larger and more modern, is also showing its age.
Should anything ever happen to disrupt traffic on the Confederation Bridge — even in the short term — the NFL service becomes especially critical for this province.
The task force must be clear in its recommendations and have the full support of the legislature. We have a tried and true friend with Cardigan MP Lawrence MacAulay around the cabinet table in Ottawa. He must have a strong mandate to push the report’s recommendations and get a commitment for a new ferry as soon as possible.
A new vessel is essential for the long-term and viable future of the ferry service.