Truckers, trade groups start website to stop Marine Atlantic fee hike

ST. JOHN’S — Trucking and business advocates have launched an online petition to protest Ottawa’s recent announcement that Marine Atlantic is increasing rates and introducing fuel surcharges.

The Marine Atlantic Users Group, which includes the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association as well as the St. John’s Board of Trade and the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters –Newfoundland and Labrador Division, also demands the ferry service be declared an essential service and legislation be introduced to save it from labor disruptions.

The short sea extension of the Trans Canada, as Marine Atlantic is referred to, should also remove pensions costs related to discontinued services from the formula to calculate the Marine Atlantic Subsidy, says the group.

Furthermore, the users want the government to eliminate the need for a fuel surcharge by including fuel costs in Marine Atlantic’s subsidy calculation and tie future rate increases to actual costs to operate the service between The Rock and Nova Scotia to .75 percent of core CPI .

The online petition, available at www.PetitionOnline.com/FCMAINL/petition.html (link below)

As of this morning the petition has 760 signatures.