Newfoundland truckers plan ferry boycott

ST. JOHN’S, Nfld. (Sept. 16, 1999) – A group of about 30 independent truckers is threatening to boycott the beleaguered Marine Atlantic ferry service, which provides a link between Newfoundland and the rest of Canada.

The drivers want the federally funded company to add a fourth boat to its fleet by Sept. 30 in order to reduce delays that have plagued the ferry service, said Kevin Canning, who claims to represent the truckers.

Canning announced the planned boycott during a public forum in Port aux Basques, Nfld., on Monday. Marine Atlantic and government officials are meeting with the public throughout the week to hear complaints and suggestions about the declining service on the ferry.

Resolving the capacity crunch on the Gulf Crossings by Sept. 30 is not possible, Marine Atlantic chairwoman Moya Cahil said Tuesday.

“Where we are today is we have … a number of options which management has reviewed with the board, and we’re in process of putting numbers into a financial model,” she said at the meeting. The plan will be submitted to Transport Minister David Collenette at the end of the month, she added.

“The board, management and even Ottawa now realize we have a capacity problem and we have to resolve it somehow,” Cahill said. “Either through an additional vessel or replacement of one of our vessel.”

During the summer, truckers were forced to wait several days to get trailers across the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The delays have not abated with the end of the summer tourist season. The fleet will drop to two boats next month when one ferry is taken out of service for maintenance.

Passenger traffic has increased 22.5% in the last three years, jumping 4.5% in 1997, 7.5% in 1998 and another 9% this year, Cahill said. The 1999 passenger increase was accompanied by a 6% jump in commercial traffic.