N.S. premier booed in Yarmouth

Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter got a frosty welcome in Yarmouth Wednesday from people protesting the loss of the CAT ferry service.

While being protected by the RCMP, the premier was booed on the streets by area residents upset by his government's decision to cut the subsidy to the high speed CAT ferry that operated between Yarmouth and Maine for more than 10 years.

It was the premier's first visit to the town since the decision to axe the subsidy was made in December, and Bay Ferries Ltd. announced it would no longer run the ferry.

The company wanted at least $6 million from the government in 2010to keep the CAT ferry going between Yarmouth and the Maine cities of Bar Harbor and Portland

On Wednesday, Dexter met with municipal politicians to talk about the loss of the ferry.

He also used the visit to announce that his government will spend $200,000 to promote Yarmouth and the French Acadian Shore as a tourist destination.

Dexter again defended the decision to kill the ferry subsidy.

"We cannot continue to subsidize services that are not sustainable. I mean, what it actually does is it takes away from your ability to strengthen the economy."

Yarmouth Mayor Phil Mooney wasn't impressed by the premier's stance.

"We need a ferry service," he said. "Up to six operators have been in contact interested in putting a service in for 2011."

The ferry run between Yarmouth and Maine began in 1997. The Nova Scotia governmenthas put $18.9 million into the ferry service since the fall of 2007.