HALIFAX – Argyle MLA Chris d'Entremont says the fact that western Nova Scotia is willing to put up half the money needed to keep the CAT Ferry operating this year should make Premier Darrell Dexter reconsider his decision to quit subsidizing the service.
 
Four municipalities and several area businesses have raised between $2.5 and $3 million, and are asking the province to make up the rest of the $6 million required by Bay Ferries Ltd. to keep the CAT afloat.
 
"In case there was any confusion, this should make it absolutely clear to Premier Dexter and Tourism and Economic Development Minister Percy Paris that Nova Scotians do not want to lose this critical link to the United States, and are willing to do whatever it takes to maintain it," d'Entremont said. "This government should be willing to do the same, but instead of coming up with alternatives, it has turned its back on a service that contributes about $175 million to Nova Scotia's tourism industry each year."
 
Yarmouth Mayor Phil Mooney said the proposal was driven by local retailers concerned about the impact of losing the business of the 75,000 to 150,000 travelers who use the ferry annually. Speaking on behalf of the group, Mayor Mooney said the urgency of the situation prompted them to request the premier respond by Friday, Feb. 26.
 
"That they would take it upon themselves to raise half the money shows you how much people value this service, and what it means to the economy of this region," said d'Entremont. "If proper consultations and a transportation study had been carried out before the government chose to discontinue the subsidy, maintaining the ferry would have been a priority for this government, as it is for the people of western Nova Scotia."
 
But it's not too late, d'Entremont said, adding the community's willingness to assist in covering half the subsidy should make it easy for the premier to "make the logical decision to support the Yarmouth ferry."
 
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For more information, please contact:
Janna MacGregor
Public Relations Officer
NS Progressive Conservative Caucus
Tel: 902.424.5238
Cell: 902.499.9948
Fax: 902.424.7484
macgrejl@gov.ns.ca