Minister acknowledges receipt of Advisory Committee�s report on Marine Atlantic

Tom Rideout, Minister of Transportation and Works, today met with federal Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre and was presented with a copy of the report of the Advisory Committee on Marine Atlantic.

Minister Rideout said, "Following the formation of the Advisory Committee on Marine Atlantic, I wrote Minister Lapierre suggesting a collaborative approach to finding long-term solutions to issues affecting the gulf ferry service. At the advisory committee�s roundtable discussions in January, I requested that Minister Lapierre and I meet to discuss the advisory committee�s findings and recommendations before any implementation. Today, I would like to thank Minister Lapierre for making himself available to meet with me to discuss the report.

"Our initial assessment indicates that the issues raised by our government were addressed in the report. However, my department is undertaking to review the report in more detail."

In government�s submission to the advisory committee�s roundtable discussions, Minister Rideout reiterated government�s belief that the federal government has a constitutional obligation to provide the gulf ferry service. Representations were also made by government regarding the rates charged by Marine Atlantic, the subsidy provided by the federal government to Marine Atlantic and the need for legislation to ensure there are no disruptions to the gulf ferry service.

"Government is cognizant of the importance of the gulf ferry service to our province, our people and our economy. Our government is now in the process of reviewing the document," said the minister.

"We plan to meet with our stakeholders, as we did at the beginning of the process, to obtain their views on the report and its recommendations. Government looks forward to working with our stakeholders and the federal government to implement long-term solutions for the gulf ferry service," the minister said.

Media contact: Lori Lee Oates, ABC, Communications, (709) 729-3015, 690-8403

2005 05 06                                   2:15 p.m.