Municipal money would go for ad campaign
Concern over still secret recommendations by federal working group
Money being raised from municipal units in western Nova Scotia will be spent in an ad campaign to get more people to use the Digby-Saint John ferry service.
But there is concern a federal study might be undermining local efforts to preserve the ferry.
If all municipalities sign on for the advertising campaign, the total contribution could reach $40,000.
“We’ve committed to putting the money towards (the campaign),” said Municipality of Digby warden Jim Thurber, who is heading a regional coalition formed to save the ferry service.
An agreement between ferry operator Bay Ferries Ltd. and the federal and provincial governments of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick expires at the end of next January.
The coalition of municipal politicians and area business people met today in Digby to plan their next move.
“We’ve got to get affected communities and businesses informed of what the consequences are,” said Thurber, and added that the group also hopes to get the New Brunswick provincial government more behind the ferry.
Thurber said support from Central Nova MP Peter MacKay may be the ferry’s best hope, but the warden is concerned at what is contained in a study prepared last year for MacKay as head of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and fellow cabinet minister Lawrence Cannon of Transport Canada.
The study was prepared by a working group of civil servants and handed to the ministers in late fall but its findings and any recommendations have not been made public.
“We need to know what is being talked about, so we can combat it if need be,” said Thurber.
