Tourism, Culture and Recreation
Transportation and Works
November 19, 2009
Federal Auditor General�s
Report Confirms
Province�s Position on Marine Atlantic Fleet Renewal
The pressing need to
address issues with Marine Atlantic�s aging ferry fleet
and shore-based assets, to implement improved
maintenance practices, and to review the company�s
governance structure are among the key recommendations
in the Auditor General of Canada�s Special Examination
Report of Marine Atlantic Inc.
The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Tourism,
Culture and Recreation, said the report, which was
released today, confirms what the Provincial Government
has been telling the Federal Government for some time,
most recently during September meetings of federal,
provincial and territorial (FPT) ministers responsible
for tourism, and during a meeting with Rob Merrifield,
the Federal Minister of State (Transport), last month.
�We have taken every opportunity to impress upon federal
authorities � through phone calls, letters and during
meetings � the critical need to adequately fund Marine
Atlantic and implement a fleet renewal strategy that
will ensure a safe, affordable, reliable Gulf ferry
service which will serve the needs of visitors,
residents and commercial traffic,� said Minister
Jackman. �We have been encouraged by the response from
Marine Atlantic officials to our concerns about service
issues and, more recently, by indications that the
Federal Government is taking this issue seriously. The
Auditor General�s recommendations are important, in that
they represent an independent assessment of the
situation and reinforce this province�s contention that
Marine Atlantic and the Federal Government must work
together to resolve any related funding issues.�
Minister Jackman noted the province�s growing tourism
industry is particularly reliant on a high-quality Gulf
ferry service, as approximately 25 per cent of
non-residents arrive in the province via Marine
Atlantic.
�Newfoundland and Labrador has made enormous headway in
marketing this province as a tourist destination,� said
Minister Jackman. �People want to come here � and that
is evidenced in the increase in tourism traffic over the
past several years. But the experience they have with
the Marine Atlantic ferry service is critical to
ensuring this growth can continue, and that we can
maximize the economic potential of the tourism industry
in the years to come.�
The Honourable Tom Marshall, Acting Minister of
Transportation and Works, said the Auditor General�s
report reiterated the province�s assertion that Marine
Atlantic is a vital transportation link to Newfoundland
and Labrador and that the Government of Canada is
obligated to providing a Gulf ferry service under the
Terms of Union governing Newfoundland and Labrador�s
confederation with Canada.
�A high-quality Gulf ferry service is critical not only
to Newfoundland and Labrador, but to the entire country
as well,� said Minister Marshall. �It is an economic
enabler and, as the Auditor General�s report notes,
Marine Atlantic�s commercial customers transport about
50 per cent of goods entering Newfoundland and Labrador,
including 90 per cent of perishable goods. It is our
link to Canada and North America, and a reliable ferry
service to this province is essential to ensuring the
success of provincial and national economic interests.�
Both Ministers Jackman and Marshall said they expect the
Federal Government will heed the recommendations made in
the Auditor General�s report and provide the necessary
financial resources to improve the Marine Atlantic
service.
The Office of the Auditor General of Canada�s report can
be viewed at:
Marine Atlantic Inc. - Special Examination Report.
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Media contacts:
Heather May
Director of Communications
Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation
709-729-0928, 697-5061
heathermay@gov.nl.ca |
Roger Scaplen
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-3015, 697-5267
rogerscaplen@gov.nl.ca |
2009 11 19
2:45 p.m.
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