Transportation and Works
March 17, 2015

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable David Brazil, Minister of Transportation and Works:

Ceremony Celebrates Naming of Province’s Newest Ferry for Change Islands and Fogo Island

Mr. Mr. Speaker, I’m pleased to rise today to inform my Honourable colleagues about the latest milestone in this government’s ferry vessel replacement efforts. This past Friday, I had the pleasure of joining our Premier, the Member for The Isles of Notre Dame, officials and residents of the communities of Fogo Island and Change Islands to name the new ferry, the MV Veteran, which will arrive in the province in fall 2015.

The MV Veteran Mr. Speaker, will service Fogo Island and Change Islands and is named in celebration of all Canadian men and women in uniform, past and present. This name reinforces the pillars outlined in Honour 100, which was launched in 2013 to commemorate the centennial anniversaries of the First World War and is organized into five pillars – anniversaries, education, legacy, outreach, and research and development.

I would also like to inform my Honourable colleagues that the observation deck and two passenger lounges of the MV Veteran will be named in recognition of four notable individuals who have contributed to the communities of Fogo Island and Change Islands. These individuals are A.R. Scammell who was born on Change Islands and was a prominent figure in Newfoundland and Labrador’s arts community; Captain Fred Chaffey and Captain Patrick Miller, who both operated the ferry service for Change Islands and Fogo Islands; and Margaret Cobb, who worked as a nurse on the Easter Seal and later on Fogo Island for many years.

The MV Veteran is currently under construction at Damen Shipyards in Romania and its addition to the provincial fleet of ferries this coming fall will significantly improve our ability to deliver more reliable service to residents and businesses in Change Islands and Fogo Island. The new ferry will be a 14-knot, 80-metre ice-class vessel with roll-on, roll-off capability and will be able to carry 200 passengers and 60 vehicles.

The naming of the MV Veteran Mr. Speaker, is not only a tribute to the service of Canadian men and women in uniform who serve our great country. It is also a celebration of Captains Chaffey and Miller, Mr. Scammell and Ms. Cobb, who each made tremendous contributions to Fogo Island and Change Islands and this region of our province.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all Members of this Honourable House to join me in recognizing their contributions and the sacrifice of all our women and men in service.

Thank you.

2015 03 17                              2:05 p.m.