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Proposed additional charges on Marine Atlantic services The federal department, Agriculture and Agrifood Canada is proposing a new cost recovery measure that will affect every car and truck exiting this province. Agriculture and Agrifood Canada (AAFC) operates inspection and car wash facilities at Port aux Basques and Argentia to prevent the movement to the mainland of two quarantinable soil-borne pests - the potato wart disease (Synchvtrium endobioticum) and the golden cyst nematode (Globodera rostochiensis). These are two soil-borne pests occurring in parts of this province but not in other provinces. These potato pests are of particular significance to the seed potato industry of Canada which could have export restrictions placed on them by other countries, if these pests are transported to seed potato producing areas. The federal Department of Agriculture established inspection and wash stations at Port aux Basques in 1968 and Argentia in 1979. Until now, the operation and cost of this service was provided by this federal department. However, AAFC intends to establish user fees and this intent has now been pre-published in the Canada Gazette Part I in the September 6 edition. The public has 30 days in which to register any comment on this proposal. The breakdown of this new fee to the traveller leaving the province would be: Fee HST Total Cars: $4.00 + $0.60 = $4.60 Trucks: $7.00 + $1.05 = $8.05
Agriculture and Agrifood Canada (AAFC) maintain that the cost for inspection services must be shared between those who derive a benefit from the services and the federal government. In this particular case, AAFC considers the potato and horticulture sectors and the direct users of the ferry service to be the beneficiaries. However, this will be the first and only instance where domestic/commercial traffic will be charged a fee for travel within the country, due to a disease quarantine situation. "I strongly disagree with classifying the direct users of the ferry service as beneficiaries," stated Kevin Aylward, Minister of Forest Resources and Agrifoods. "While the general philosophy of the beneficiaries covering a portion of the cost of a service is not out of line, this program is of no direct benefit to the travelling public. In fact, these proposed fees will add to the cost of doing business in Newfoundland and Labrador. They could also have a negative effect on our tourism industry, as too many prospective tourists already perceive the cost of travel to our province as an obstacle. "We firmly believe that since this program was established for the benefit of the agriculture industry in the rest of Canada, the program is of national benefit and thus should continue to be funded 100 per cent by the federal government." As indicated in the Canada Gazette Part I, September 6 issue, members of the public are invited to respond to this proposal by October 6 (30 days after the date of publication). Submissions can be made to:
Dr. Jean Hollebone, Honourable Lyle Vanclief Contact: Anna Buffinga,
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