Newfoundlanders speak out about how to bolster ferry service

PORT AUX BASQUES, Nfld. (Sept. 14, 1999) — Truckers and tourist groups were among those making a case for upgrades to the federally funded Marine Atlantic ferry service here last night, kicking off a week of public meetings on the issue.

The series of public forums are being organized by the Newfoundland government, which is pressuring Ottawa to improve service that links Newfoundland with the rest of Canada.

On the list of suggestions is a fourth ferry to improve traffic capacity and reduce the long waiting times, which have stymied commercial transportation to and from the province.

There are also calls for Ottawa to extend the run from North Sydney, N.S., to Argentia, Nfld., about a 90-minute drive from St. John’s. Currently, that ferry only operates from late June to early September; all other traffic is routed from North Sydney to Port aux Basques, almost 900 kilometres from St. John’s.

The meetings continue this week:

Sept. 14 at the Canada Games Centre in Comer Brook
Sept. 15 at the Arts and Culture Centre in Grand Falls-Windsor
Sept. 16 at the Star of the Sea Hall in Placentia
Sept. 17 at the Delta Hotel and Conference Centre, Salon A in St. John’s

To register to make a presentation at the forum, contact the Forum Coordinator, 1-888-570-1133, or e-mail: gulfferry@nfld.net. Written briefs or additional comments may also be mailed to the Dept. of Tourism, Culture, and Recreation, P.O. Box 8700, St. John’s, NF, AIB 4J6, attention: Forum Coordinator.

Information on the Gulf Ferry Service Public Forums is also available on the Newfoundland government Web site at www.gov.nf.ca/tcr/gulfferry/default.htm