THERIAULT: LONG-TERM FUNDING SOLUTION NEEDED FOR DIGBY - SAINT JOHN FERRY SERVICE
Date: Friday January 22, 2010

(Digby, NS) Liberal MLA Junior Theriault wants to know what the Federal Conservative government’s plan is to keep the Digby ferry service in operation after the existing agreement expires on January 2011. In a letter recently sent to West Nova MP Greg Kerr and Minister of ACOA Keith Ashfield, Theriault stated the need for a long-term plan and passed on concerns of local residents.

“The Princess of Acadia ferry service generates roughly $40 million a year for the economy of Nova Scotia,” said Theriault. “The people and businesses of this region cannot afford to lose the ferry service.  With the NDP government’s recent decision to stop funding the CAT ferry, the ferry service between Digby and Saint John has become all the more crucial.”

Theriault stressed that the essential link directly employs approximately 130 people in both Nova Scotia and neighboring New Brunswick.

“The number of indirect jobs negatively affected if this ferry is lost would be disastrous for Southwest Nova Scotia,” explained the MLA for Digby-Annapolis. “Truckers, tourism operators, fish plant workers and numerous other jobs that are critical to the economy of Nova Scotia are at stake.”

Future business in Western Nova Scotia hinges on the stability of the ferry service and Theriault says the uncertainty around the issue has already cost the area opportunities. He acknowledged that a joint federal - provincial study is being conducted on transportation links in Nova Scotia. The report is due to be released in the near future.

“With the sudden loss of the CAT, the proposal by Acadian Lines to cease their bus routes between Kentville and Digby and Starlink Aviation ending their service, the importance of a ferry service between Digby and Saint John is even more important. We need a long-term plan from government and we need it now.”

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