Shea lauds P.E.I. ferry money

Federal cabinet minister Gail Shea says Tuesday's announcement of $51-million for three ferry services in the Maritimes should provide security for Islanders who rely on the service between Nova Scotia and P.E.I.

"I think that's greatnews for those people who work for the ferry and for those from Nova Scotia and from P.E.I. who use that ferry service on a regular basis."said Shea, Fisheries Minister and the MP for Egmont.

The money provides operational funding for three ferry services: Wood Islands, P.E.I., to Caribou, N.S.; Digby, N.S., to Saint John, N.B.; and Souris, P.E.I., to les-de-la-Madeleine, Que. That's in addition to the $32 million already in the current federal budget.The funding runs to March 31, 2014.

Shea says she doesn't have the details yet on how the money will be divided. She also says Transport Canada will study whether there will be more money coming to replace or refurbish aging vessels.

Mark MacDonald, president of Northumberland Ferries, says the funding commitment is good news and that his company will continue to work with federal and provincial officials to finalize the best possible agreement for taxpayers, customers and workers.

MacDonald says he won't comment further until all the funding details are known and discussions with government officials are complete.

Winter service continuing

The mayor of Souris is applauding Ottawa's decision to continue providing funding for winter service between his town and les-de-la-Madeleine.

The ferry company CTMA had been offering year-round service as a pilot project, but there were questions whether that could continue without some help from the federal government. Ottawa announced funding to continue winter service until 2014.

Souris Mayor David MacDonald said the winter service provides good spinoffs for the town.

"During the regular season the ferry leaves at two o'clock in the afternoon and people tend to just drive in and drive on type of thing, and they don't probably spend a lot of money in our community," said MacDonald.

"But the winter ferry leaves at eight in the morning, which means that travelers for the most part come into Souris the evening before and probably have accommodations and a meal here and whatever. So we're quite pleased with the offshoot of that service."

MacDonald would have liked to have seen the funding promised for more than four years. He said the year-round service is vital and should be offered indefinitely.