Opposition pushes government on ferry
Belfast-Murray River MLA Darlene Compton says premier needs to lobby Ottawa
Opposition MLA Darlene Compton is accusing Premier Wade MacLauchlan of being indifferent about the P.E.I. ferry issue.
The Belfast-Murray River member also launched an online petition Friday, calling on the P.E.I. government to take action and demand answers from the federal government on the restoration of full service to the Wood Islands ferry.
Northumberland Ferries Ltd., which operates the ferry service between P.E.I. and Nova Scotia, has been using the MV Confederation to handle all of the traffic by itself so far this season because the MV Holiday Island is being repaired in dry dock.
“The lack of reaction from the provincial government over the crisis is appalling,’’ Compton said. “We are halfway through the peak summer season and government’s indifference towards eastern P.E.I. and our residents and small businesses is shocking.”
Compton noted that Transportation Minister Paula Biggar committed in the legislature last fall to securing any funding she could get for the Wood Islands ferry.
“I would sure like to hear something from the premier . . . some kind of reaction,’’ Compton said.
MacLauchlan is currently taking part in the annual premiers’ meetings, being held this year in Whitehorse.
Compton noted that one of the issues the premiers are talking about is inter-provincial trade, an issue that speaks directly to the ferry matter.
“The ferry is a huge economic generator for eastern P.E.I.,’’ Compton said, referring to the number of trucks hauling product on the boats.
The Guardian spoke to truckers earlier this week and they are frustrated over the length of time it is taking them to get across. They also say that the Confederation Bridge isn’t a realistic option because it doesn’t save time and costs them in extra fuel.
“(MacLauchlan) is talking inter-provincial trade . . . well, you had better have a mechanism in place to get those goods back and forth,’’ she said. “Where is our provincial government? If they’re not pushing, then who is listening.’’
In a statement released to The Guardian on Friday, MacLauchlan said government knows the importance of the ferry to the province and has been working with its partners to find a solution since day one.
“We have been directly in touch with federal minister Lawrence MacAulay numerous times and are working together to find a resolution, including potential private sector solutions in the region,’’ the premier said.
Compton acknowledges that MacAulay has been outspoken on the issue, voicing his frustration over the matter, but the Opposition MLA says pressure has to be coming from both the federal and provincial sides.