Statement by
Honourable Tom Rideout
Minister of Transportation and Works
March 22, 2005
Mr. Speaker, I rise in this honourable House this
afternoon to inform my colleagues that government has awarded a contract for the
annual refit and inspection of the MV Sir Robert Bond.
Mr. Speaker, Budget 2005 allocated $2.97 million for refits to the MV Sir Robert
Bond and MV Northern Ranger, which are part of the Labrador Marine Service.
The Bond�s annual refit and inspection is required by Transport Canada.
I am pleased to inform this House that Newdock of St. John�s has been awarded a
contract valued at over $2 million for the annual refit of the Sir Robert Bond.
This contract provides for improvements to the vessel through the addition of
more seating, additional overnight accommodations and the installation of an
elevator to improve the vessel�s accessibility. Our government endeavours to
make our vessels accessible to all individuals including those who may need
assistance with boarding a vessel in our fleet.
Last year, my department made alterations to the MV Northern Ranger, another
vessel that is part of the Labrador Marine Service. My department installed a
new portable wheelchair lift/ramp on the Ranger.
Mr. Speaker, my department also made a number of positive changes to the
Labrador Marine Service during the past year. In December 2004, we released the
2005 schedule for the Sir Robert Bond and other vessels that comprise the
Labrador Marine Service. I have been advised that this is the earliest the
schedule has ever been available since the service was taken over provincially.
The people of this province depend upon a strong, quality infrastructure. Our
government recognizes that ferries and marine infrastructure are very important
to the people who use them everyday.
Mr Speaker, to that end another $4 million has been budgeted for annual and
mid-life vessel refits for ferries that serve the island, representing a $1.6
million increase over the 2004-05 budget year. The overall increase for the
province is $3.1 million. These strategic investments will enable our government
to provide for a stable ferry service over the long-term. As we are guiding the
province toward economic and fiscal stability, we continue to provide for the
critical services that the public depend on.
Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to providing safe and reliable vessels
for the people of the province and providing quality ferry service to the people
of Labrador. Just as stability and reliability were the hallmarks of the 2004
shipping season, my department anticipates that the 2005 season will be just as
effective.
Thank-you, Mr. Speaker. |