August 6, 1999
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)

Public Input Sought on Gulf Ferry Service

Tourism, Culture and Recreation Minister Charles Furey; Works, Services and Transportation Minister Rick Woodford; and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Walter Noel, announced today new details on province-wide public forums to be held in September on the Gulf ferry service.

"The Gulf ferry service is key to transporting people and goods to and from the island portion of the province. As our economy continues to grow the stresses on the service are becoming more and more apparent. We must work together now if we are to ensure the Gulf ferry service becomes a first-rate service for the future - a service that not only enables but promotes the continued growth of our economy," said Furey. "These forums will provide an excellent opportunity for a clear and constructive dialogue with the people of the province and the federal government on which to put forth solutions to the current problems encountered with the Gulf ferry service."

The forums will take place at:

Channel/Port aux Basques, Kinsmen Centre - September 13
Corner Brook, Canada Games Centre - September 14
Grand Falls-Windsor, Main Hall, Arts and Culture Centre - September 15
Placentia, Star of the Sea - September 16
St. John's, Delta Hotel and Conference Centre, Salon A - September 17

The public forums will be held in partnership with Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador (HNL), the Newfoundland and Labrador Chamber of Commerce, the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association (APTA) and the Truckers Committee. Together with officials of the relevant departments, representatives of these groups have formed a steering committee to organize the forum. Kelvin Parsons, MHA - Burgeo/LaPoile, is also involved in this process.

"This very public exercise is about partnerships. Government is working with everyone involved to stimulate constructive dialogue about the Gulf ferry service and derive acceptable solutions for a ferry service for the future. The feedback we receive will form the basis of a report which will be presented to the federal government,: said Furey. "Because we want to ensure we put forth to the federal government a document which details not only areas of concern but also suggested solutions we are encouraging people to write, telephone, e-mail or fax government with their views and comments on Gulf ferry issues, and/or register to present their views at the forum themselves."

Ministers Woodford and Noel further stressed the need for this process. "We have to convince the federal government of the need for an improved ferry service," said Minister Noel. "It is essential to provide proper service for our residents and visitors, to promote economic development generally, and to maximize the potential of our tourism industry."

"These forums are a constructive and focused exercise to seek a consensus on how to resolve the short-term capacity problem," said Minister Woodford. "They are also an opportunity to generate solutions to such longer-term issues as service quality and schedules."

People are invited to send comments anytime by:

Telephone 1-888-750-1133
Facsimile 709-729-2454 or 1-888-446-7225
E-mail gulfferry@nfld.net

To present their views at the forum, people are asked to register with the forum coordinator who can be reached via the telephone or fax numbers, or the Internet address given above. Written briefs or comments may also be sent by mail to the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, P.O. Box 8700, St. John's, Newfoundland, A1B 4J6, attention: Forum Coordinator.

Following the forums, the steering committee will finalize a report consisting of the broadly-based set of recommendations which will then be presented to the Government of Canada.

Media contact:

Tara Laing, Communications
Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation
(709) 729-0928

John Doody, Communications
Department of Works, Services and Transportation
(709) 729-1983

Ron Fitzpatrick, Communications
Intergovernmental Affairs
(709) 729-2077

________________________________
GULF FERRY SERVICE FORUM
BACKGROUNDER

• On June 3, Ministers for Tourism, Culture and Recreation, Works, Services and Transportation, and Intergovernmental Affairs announced that the provincial government would be putting in place a number of initiatives to bring the Marine Atlantic Gulf ferry service to the forefront of the federal government's agenda.

• High on the provincial government's agenda is a replacement vessel for the Atlantic Freighter which the province believes is inadequate to meet the needs of truckers and travellers using the services.

• At that time the ministers also announced that the provincial government would be moving forward with a province-wide forum on the Gulf ferry service to begin in mid-September and will include five public meetings.

• These forums, which will be held in partnership with key stakeholders, will seek input from people throughout the province who have an interest in the Gulf ferry service.

• Why a public forum? - A public forum offers government an opportunity to hear from a broad cross-section of stakeholders who have an interest in the Gulf ferry service. The forums will be held throughout the province in an effort to be accessible to all.

• What does government plan to do with the information gathered at the public forum? - The information gathered at these forums will be the foundation upon which government can develop a broadly based and widely accepted set of recommendations for short and long-term solutions for the Gulf ferry service. These recommendations will be part of a report on the future of the Gulf ferry service in Newfoundland.

Ultimately this report, along with other information, will be used to support the province's initiative to garner the support of the Government of Canada for improving the Gulf ferry service.

• If a person cannot attend one of these forums, how can a person be a part of this process? - If for any reason a person is unable to attend the forums, they can call the toll-free line 1-888-750-1133, send an e-mail at gulfferry@nfld.net, or send a fax at (709) 729-2454 (St. John's) or toll-free long distance 1-888-446-7225 (outside St. John's). The address, fax and phone line have been established especially for people to comment on the Gulf ferry service.

_____________________________________
GULF FERRY SERVICE ISSUES
BACKGROUNDER

• What issues surrounding the ferry service have been identified thus far? - Capacity problems, rates and schedules, and service quality issues are some of the areas of concern frequently expressed to the Departments of Tourism, Culture and Recreation and Works, Services and Transportation, and Intergovernmental Affairs in regards to the Gulf ferry service.

• To put the issues in perspective, some of the challenges concerning the Gulf Ferry service include:

• The current configuration of vessels is inadequate to meet current capacity demands, especially during peak tourist season from June through to September.

• In 1998, Marine Atlantic carried 444,425 passengers to and from Newfoundland. Of this number 296,510 passengers or 67 per cent travelled to and from Newfoundland in the June to September period.

• In July and August, 1998 Marine Atlantic operated at full capacity on 186 of 265 crossings of the two superferries, the MV Caribou and the MV Smallwood. This resulted in a significant number of both passenger vehicles and commercial units being left on the dock to wait for the next sailing. It is believed that many potential tourists do not come to the province because of unavailable space.

• Over the past two years the tourism industry has grown 23 per cent. The auto portion of the tourism industry has grown 17.9 per cent.

• In the first two quarters of 1999, there was a nine per cent increase in the number of tourists, an eight per cent increase in commercial realted vehicles, and a six per cent increase in overall passenger traffic using the Marine Atlantic service.

• The trucking industry has serious concerns with the Gulf ferry service. In addition to the increased numbers of commercial units, individual tractor trailer lengths have increased from 45-48 feet to 53 feet in length. Many trucks have been delayed one to two days because of capacity problems, especially during the peak tourism season.

• Marine Atlantic acknowledges that capacity has been reached and approached Transport Canada to replace the Atlantic Freighter. Transport Canada refused and ordered Marine Atlantic to conduct a study of traffic levels to the province. A comprehensive study to determine existing and future traffic levels will be completed in September 1999.

_____________________________________
THE GULF FERRY SERVICE
BACKGROUNDER

• The Gulf ferry service is a constitutionally guaranteed service.

Term 32 (1) of the Terms of Union states: Canada will maintain in accordance with the traffic offering a freight and passenger steamship service between North Sydney and Port aux Basques, which, on completion of a motor highway between Corner Brook and Port aux Basques, will include suitable provision for the carriage of vehicles.

• Currently, three vessels provide service on the Gulf:

MV Joseph and Clara Smallwood
entered Gulf service in 1990
used on both Port aux Basques and Argentia routes
1,223 passenger capacity
370 vehicle capacity B this equates to 370 automobiles or 77 tractor trailers and 18 automobiles or any combination thereof

MV Caribou
entered Gulf service in 1986
used on Port aux Basques route
1,200 passenger capacity
370 vehicle capacity B or 77 tractor trailers and 18 automobiles

MV Atlantic Freighter
entered Gulf service in 1986
12 passenger capacity (24 in July and August)
91 trucks/trailers

1999 08 06 12:30 p.m.