SYDNEY, N.S. — The provincial regulator will host a joint hearing into three separate applications to amend motor carrier permits in the Sydney area.
Blackwood Tours Inc., Eskasoni band council and Pengbo’s Shuttle all applied to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board to amend their licences, Coach Atlantic transportation Group, Absolute Charters and Transoverland Ltd. have objected to all of the applications, while the Blackwood Tours application was also opposed by Pengbo’s Shuttle and Markie Bus Tours.
Blackwood Tours Ltd. of Big Pond has applied to allow for the addition of one 20-27 passenger bus to operate under existing rates and authorities.
Pengo’s Shuttle of Sydney has applied to transport individuals and groups from any point in Cape Breton to any point in Nova Scotia, excluding cruise ship passengers, which would effectively remove its current restrictions, and to add an authority to provide backup cruise ship service to local tourism companies, including Bannockburn Tours, Cabot Discovery Tours, Blackwood Tours and Blue Thistle Tours.
Eskasoni band council has applied to have the authority to transport groups of cruise ship passengers from the Sydney cruise ship to Eskasoni and return, to take part in a cultural experience.
Because all three applications involve the Cape Breton market and generally involve many of the same carriers, the board determined that it would be more efficient to hear all of the matters in one consolidated hearing.
In its notice for the hearing, the board noted that any specific evidence about one particular carrier would apply only to that carrier and not to the others, and each of the three different applications would be considered individually by the board.
The hearing is set to take place Dec. 11 at the Holiday Inn at 300 Esplanade in Sydney. The hearing is open to the public.
