PC caucus members heading to Ottawa to try and save ferry service for 2010

From the Yarmouth County Vanguard

Progressive Conservative caucus members are heading to Ottawa next week in what may be a last-ditch effort to ensure there is ferry service between Yarmouth and Maine during the 2010 tourist season.

Argyle MLA Chris d'Entremont says time is running out for the provincial government to provide Bay Ferries Ltd. with a subsidy that would allow the ferry to resume crossings between Yarmouth and Portland and Bar Harbour, Maine.

"The premier has stated that the decision to discontinue funding has been made and it is not going to be revisited," d'Entremont said Thursday. "We aretaking the initiative to work with the federal government to save hundreds of jobs and intervene before Nova Scotia loses millions of dollars in tourism revenue."

Cape Breton North MLA Cecil Clarke will lead the delegation and says the trip is a precursor to the opening of the 61st General Assembly in Nova Scotia on March 25. The MLAs are working with West Nova MP Greg Kerr to schedule meetings with available ministers on the future of the ferry.

The delegation will seek to find ways for the federal government to partner with the community, thus enabling the province to get the ferry service back.

"The Nova Scotia government is not only demonstrating a lack of leadership on this issue, it is unable to grasp the incredible financial loss to our province if this international link is discontinued," Clarke said. "Our goal is to urge our federal leaders to step in before it is too late."

Earlier this month, residents, retailers and community leaders from western Nova Scotia staged a protest at the Legislature. They asked the government to reconsider the decision, in light of the business the ferry service brings to the province each year.

When that failed to sway the premier, four municipalities and several businesses got together and raised about 50 per cent of the money needed to operate the ferry ruring the 2010 season.

The group has given Premier Dexter until Friday to respond to the offer, but d'Entremont said many of his Argyle constituents have given up hope.

"The premier has said nothing will change the decision, so the only thing we can do is make a formal plea to our federal ministers to act on behalf of Nova Scotians who will be devastated by this loss," d'Entremont said.