NLIS 4
June 23, 2000
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)

Province displeased with appointments to Marine Atlantic Board

Charles Furey, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, expressed disappointment regarding reports of new federal government appointments to the Marine Atlantic Board of Directors and called on the federal minister to reverse these appointments. Two new members of the Board of Directors are from Nova Scotia and one is from New Brunswick. The Board now has more people from outside Newfoundland and Labrador than inside the province.

"This announcement flies in the face of what we heard from the people of the province last year," said Furey.

The report On Deck and Below recommended the following to the federal government: Restructure the Board of Directors to reflect the five regions of Newfoundland and Labrador (Avalon, Eastern, Central, Western and Labrador) and to ensure the Avalon and Western appointees are from the Placentia and Port aux Basques areas respectively. The Board should also include individuals who have the breadth and depth of expertise and experience in shipping, trucking and tourism.

"There are now only four people from Newfoundland and Labrador on the Board, including the new CEO," said Furey. "The six other members are from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The ferry service cannot be governed properly by a Board of Directors with such an unbalanced knowledge, understanding and sensitivity to the issues in this province. Things have been going well for the ferry service in recent months and now the federal government is poisoning the atmosphere with these appointments."

For many years, the federal government appointed people from throughout Atlantic Canada to the Board of Directors because Marine Atlantic had ferry operations in all four provinces. Since 1998, the only responsibility of Marine Atlantic has been the Newfoundland ferry service. The new appointments continue to disregard the views of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians as well as the advice of the provincial government.

The only place where Marine Atlantic is the lifeline for tourism, business, food supplies and other necessities is Newfoundland and Labrador. Only by living in this province can a person understand the true significance of the ferry service. Only in Newfoundland and Labrador do people talk about the ferry service, debate the issues in the media and hold their elected officials accountable for ferry issues. Unless the directors of the board live in and understand these perspectives, their stewardship of Marine Atlantic will be ineffective.

Media contact:

Elizabeth Matthews, Communications, Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, (709) 729-0928.

2000 06 23             11:55 p.m.