By Tina Comeau
THE VANGUARD
NovaNewsNow.com
With The Cat ferry having pretty much used up all of its lives, it did not appear to find another life in Thursday’s federal budget.
While the budget includes spending for ferry services in Atlantic Canada there is no mention of The Cat.
Budget 2010 provides $175 million over the next two years to Marine Atlantic, to help the constitutionally mandated service address long-term shortcomings. The money will help Marine Atlantic renew its Atlantic fleet – likely by leasing or purchasing new vessels – and will also be used for shore facilities and to improve the quality and reliability of its services between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Other ferry services in Atlantic Canada will share in $28 million “to support the operation of these ferry services,” states the budget.
The good news for one nearby Bay Ferries service is the Princess of Acadia service between Digby and Saint John, New Brunswick is included in that list.
Also on the list to receive financial support are routes between Woods Island, P.E.I. and Caribou, Nova Scotia, and between Îles de la Madeleine, Quebec and Souris, Prince Edward Island.
There is no mention of federal dollars for The Cat, which is not receiving any provincial funding to keep it operating this season.
The provincial NDP government has remained adamant that it will not provide funding to keep The Cat ferry in operation for one more season while a longer-term solution is worked out for future ferry service in the area. While this area does not dispute the fact that The Cat is not the best option for a ferry service, it says it is critical there be no interruption in service until something more suitable is put in place.
And right now The Cat is all they’ve got.
There is concern that without The Cat this year it could translate to the loss of roughly 500 jobs in the area – both those directly lost as a result of the ferry service ending and the indirect losses as businesses scale back their workforces or some business close.
Most recently the provincial government turned down a proposal to come to the table with half of the funding needed to keep The Cat ferry in operation this year. Four municipal units in the area – the Town of Yarmouth and municipalities of Yarmouth, Argyle and Clare – backed by businesses and with the federal government playing a role in the proposal, would have put up the other half.
So far the only sure money being spent on The Cat this year is the up to $3 million the provincial government is obligated to pay through a termination of service clause in a contract worked out between Bay Ferries and the former Progressive Conservative government.
