Earlier this month, the province announced it was cancelling the ferry's 2021 sailing season because of uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic.

The management fees represent the guaranteed profit that Bay Ferries Ltd., makes for operating the CAT ferry which travels between Yarmouth, N.S., and Bar Harbor.

The province said earlier this week it was cancelling the 2021 sailing season because of the "ongoing uncertainty" around the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Yarmouth ferry has not sailed since October 2018, when it last travelled to Portland, Maine.

The Liberal government and Bay Ferries CEO Mark MacDonald maintain the management fee is confidential commercial information and should remain so.

Nova Scotia has footed the bill for repairs and upgrades for the ferry since the 10-year deal for the service was signed in 2016

Premier Stephen McNeil says he hopes the service will resume next year, but he made it clear that it would be unsafe to do so this year.

Lloyd Hines wants to ensure Nova Scotians will remain safe if the ferry between Yarmouth, N.S., and Bar Harbor, Maine, launches for its first commercial season. 

The ferry service, operated by Bay Ferries Ltd. and known as the CAT, will not be operating daily crossings when the season is scheduled to begin.

The ferry company has reduced the number of people permitted on board to 200, including the crew.