Yarmouth Ferry to Get Funds?

Yarmouth ferry may get provincial money
Premier says assistance would be short-term only
Last Updated: Tuesday, November 16, 2010 | 7:46 AM AT
CBC News
Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter and Yarmouth Mayor Phil Mooney met Monday to discuss the possibility of another ferry service to the United States. (CBC)Premier Darrell Dexter is now looking at two proposals that would bring an international ferry service back to Yarmouth — if a private operator can prove the service can work in the long-term.

Dexter met with Yarmouth Mayor Phil Mooney Monday to discuss the subject.

"What we said to the municipal officials here is we are perfectly willing to work with officials in Yarmouth to look for a service that will suit this region, and one that is sustainable over the long-term," the premier said.

If a ferry service returns to Yarmouth next year, Mooney said that about $6 million in start-up money would be needed from the province. He stressed that point to Dexter during their meeting.

"You know, he [Dexter] brought up other instances in Nova Scotia where start-up money was needed for other projects, and he said he'd look at Yarmouth on the same basis as those," Mooney said.

The start-up money would go toward marketing the service and upgrading the Yarmouth terminal, Mooney said.

A spokesperson with the port in Yarmouth said the province would be involved for a maximum of three years.

Bay Ferries Ltd. ran a high-speed ferry between Yarmouth and the Maine communities of Portland and Bar Harbor from 1997 until last year when the province refused to continue subsidizing it.

The Nova Scotia government had put $18.9 million into the service since the fall of 2007.

Mooney said Monday that one ferry route under consideration is to Boston, while the other would be to either Bar Harbor or Portland.

Yarmouth Liberal MLA Zach Churchill said start-up money would most definitely be needed.

"There's going to be some significant start-up money needed in order to help market this vessel because of the break in service that we've had this year," he said, "and to ensure we have the infrastructure in place in our terminal to support it."

Two private companies are bidding to take over the ferry service. One would run a seasonal route from Yarmouth, while the other would operate year-round.

A decision is expected soon on which of the two potential operators will be the successful bidder.