Nova Star ferry's winter quarters cost additional $2.5M
Millions in government money was supposed to last seven years
The Nova Scotia government has provided the company that runs the Nova Star ferry out of Yarmouth an additional $2.5 million. The money is meant to cover the costs associated with the ferry's winter berthing fees in South Carolina, according to a news release on Sunday.
In addition to the berthing fees, the $2.5 million covers fuel and staffing to move the ferry down to South Carolina over the winter.
The additional money brings the government's total investment in the Yarmouth ferry to $28.5 million.
The Nova Scotia government released a $16,000, eight-page review of the expenditures for the heavily subsidized Nova Star ferry last Thursday.
The accounting firm KPMG found "there is nothing to report" but blacked out figures detailing start-up expenditures for the Yarmouth ferry.
The Liberals hired the accountants after the ferry blew through a seven-year, $21 million provincial government subsidy in a matter of months.
In October the Liberals said KPMG would audit Nova Star costs "looking for savings and will advise on a plan [for] future years."