No ferry? No problem for Yarmouth-to-Portland service, says MacLellan

Nova Scotia’s transportation minister says he has full confidence that the company charged with operating the Yarmouth-to-Maine ferry service will find a new vessel in time for the 2016 sailing season.

Geoff MacLellan says he’s not concerned that the mid-Decemeber deadline for Bay Ferries to secure a new ferry has lapsed.

“They’re comfortable with where we’re at as of January 2016, then we’re comfortable as well,” he said.

READ MORE: Bay Ferries Limited to take over operation of Yarmouth Ferry

MacLellan said there is no new deadline for the company to find a vessel.

The company replaced Nova Star Cruises, which operated the service for the previous two years. The Nova Star was plagued by problems in its short contract with the government, sucking up nearly twice the subsidy amount the province had originally committed. Initially, the company was supposed to get $21 million over seven years, but instead it received $39.5 million over two years. It also faced low ridership numbers.

The Liberal government says Bay Ferries’ record of operating two other ferry services in Nova Scotia puts it in good standing to operate the Yarmouth-to-Maine route as well. However, the opposition wants the government to establish a new deadline for Bay Ferries and stand by it.

“The government is going to make the same mistake again, which is leave it way too late to get a boat, and end up shelling out even more taxpayers, dollars,” Progressive Conservative Leader Jamie Baillie said.

MacLellan said concerns about having enough lead time to market the new boat and sell tickets are unfounded.

Bay Ferries CEO Mark MacDonald did not comment Thursday, but MacLellan said MacDonald is “confident and we’re confident in him.”

Because there’s no boat yet, MacLellan says he doesn’t know how much the service will cost taxpayers in 2016. He also says he doesn’t know if it will be higher or lower than the $13 million given to Nova Star Cruises in 2015.