Contrary to recent comments made by the Opposition Transportation
Critic and MHA for Port de Grave, Roland Butler, the Bell Island ferry
service continues to be a priority for the Provincial Government. The
Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Transportation and Works, set the
record straight today.
"Our government has invested heavily in the ferry service for Bell
Island and we will continue to invest strategically to ensure that
residents, businesses and visitors to Bell Island continue to have a
service that meets their needs," said Minister Hedderson. "Ferry vessels
are complicated pieces of machinery and there will be challenges from
time to time as vessels require repairs and maintenance. Recent damage
to the bow thrusters of the MV Flanders and MV Nonia were
the result of physical damage sustained through objects in the water and
had nothing to do with the mechanical condition of the vessels or their
equipment. This damage could just as easily have happened to new
vessels."
In a news release dated June 2, 2010, Mr. Butler referenced
"government's 2006 Vessel Replacement Strategy" as having identified
Bell Island as a priority for vessel replacement. Minister Hedderson
pointed out that the "strategy" referenced by the Opposition Critic was
in fact a consultant's report, prepared by BMT Fleet Technology Limited,
for consideration by the Provincial Government. Further, with specific
reference to the Bell Island service, the 2006 report clearly states,
"The issues of service reliability on this route can be addressed by
improving the performance of the existing ships on the run and, in the
longer term, by vessel replacement. Neither the Beaumont Hamel
nor, more particularly, the Flanders should be near the top of
any lists for replacement."
"If Mr. Butler is going to hang his hat on a consultant's report to
present an argument to bump Bell Island to the top of the list for ferry
vessel replacement, perhaps he should read it first," said Minster
Hedderson. "We are currently engaged in a vessel replacement process
that is seeing us replace vessels on a priority basis with consideration
to factors including vessel age, condition and service requirements.
Bell Island is currently served by vessels that are among the newest in
the provincial fleet and, which according to the 2006 consultant's
report, could provide an additional 10-15 years of service."
Minister Hedderson also expressed his surprise and dismay that Mr.
Butler would suggest that the Bell Island ferry service should be placed
ahead of ferry services to other communities which are in greater need
of new vessels. The minister noted that some of these communities are
among the most rural and remote in the province.
"The Opposition pays lip service to being champions of rural
Newfoundland and Labrador," said Minister Hedderson. "However, we see in
Mr. Butler's comments that this sentiment is only relevant to members of
the Opposition when it is politically convenient. The priorities we have
laid out for vessel replacement to date deal with the replacement of
vessels for some of our most rural and isolated communities and are
concrete examples of our government's real commitment to rural
Newfoundland and Labrador."
The total investment in the Bell Island ferry service since the
2004-05 fiscal year amounts to more than $57 million. This includes:
- more than $38 million in operating costs;
- more than $10 million for vessel refits; and,
- approximately $8 million dollars in wharf and related infrastructure repairs.
"Clearly we are making investments in Bell Island's ferry service and
we will continue to do so as we strive to make improvements throughout
all of our provincial ferry services," said Minister Hedderson.
"Officials in my department met recently with representatives of the
Bell Island Ferry Users Committee and I personally met with Wabana
Mayor, Gary Gosine, and councilor Dave Foley this week. We want to
ensure that lines of communication are left open and we are certainly
willing to discuss issues that arise with a view to making improvements
to this service wherever possible."