The controversial Yarmouth ferry will set sail for its third season Wednesday with a new boat.
The CAT will sail daily between Portland, Maine and Yarmouth from June 15 to Sept. 30. The trip is expected to take 5.5 hours each way — roughly half the time it takes to drive from Portland to Yarmouth, and three hours shorter than the car trip from Portland to Halifax.
It will leave Yarmouth at 8:30 a.m. A.T., and leave Portland the same day at 2:30 p.m. E.T. The ferry could miss nine out of the possible 107 operating days because of blackout days in Portland where the port is busy with other traffic.
READ MORE: Bay Ferries won’t release ticket sales for Yarmouth ferry
As part of the contract negotiated between the government and Bay Ferries, taxpayers will cover any operating deficiency for the service.
The expected cost for its first year is $23.3 million, including start-up costs. The projected cost to taxpayers in its second year of sailing is $9.4 million. Transportation Minister Geoff MacLellan said the costs for the subsequent eight years of the ten year contract hasn’t be calculated.
How much the government pays for the service will fluctuate based on passenger counts and ticket sales — the current subsidy is based on the ferry attracting 60,000 passengers.
The actual passenger count won’t be publicly released, but Progressive Conservative Leader Jamie Baillie predicts the ferry could cost taxpayers more than $100 million over its 10-year contract.
For two people and a vehicle, it will cost $786 USD to sail round trip, that translates to roughly $1,009 CDN.
Second chance for Bay Ferries on Yarmouth ferry route
After two expensive and rocky seasons with the Nova Star ferry, the Liberal government ditched Nova Star Cruises last year for the new operator, Bay Ferries. Bay Ferries operated the route with the original CAT ferry before the route was cancelled by the former NDP government
Premier Stephen McNeil promised to resurrect the cancelled ferry service during his 2013 election campaign. The Liberals signed the deal with Nova Star Cruises which was started under the former NDP government.
Over two years of sailing the Nova Star was plagued by lower than expected passenger numbers and cost the government millions more than expected.
When it started, the government said the ferry would cost $21 million over seven years, it ultimately cost taxpayers $39.5 million over two years.
A ferry service between Maine and Yarmouth is considered crucial for southern Nova Scotia.
Opposition calls for more transparency
All opposition parties are in favour of having a Yarmouth to Portland ferry route, but the Tories have been very critical of the deal MacLellan signed with Bay Ferries.
In particular, Baillie is calling on the Liberals to release the current passenger numbers for the new ferry so the public knows whether it’s on track to meet targets. He also wants the secret management fee going to Bay Ferries to be disclosed.
“We will continue to press Stephen McNeil’s Liberals and Bay Ferries to release the passenger numbers and the management fees,” Baillie said in an emailed statement.
The management fee Bay Ferries is charging is unknown.
In addition, that same management fee base rate is used as part of the calculation for a bonus paid to the company, should they require less government money than expected for each season.
Because the management fee is unknown, that bonus is also unknown – however the contract states it can’t be more than the management fee itself.
READ MORE: Sea trials for new Yarmouth-Maine ferry the CAT to start within days
The total bill going to the company is publicly available, but how much of that is for the company’s profit isn’t known.
New Democrats are also concerned about the ferry deal. In an emailed statement NDP Leader Gary Burrill said the Liberals have a “double standard” when it comes to the Yarmouth ferry. He says while the Liberals are cutting funds for long-term care there isn’t any spending limit for the ferry.
“The NDP is pleased that the ferry is running again, but remains concerned that the present deal contains no provision for commercial traffic, and is without federal investment,” Burrill said.
Comments