Eastern P.E.I. residents voice frustration, concern over state of ferry service

Residents of eastern P.E.I. had a chance to voice their frustrations over the beleaguered Northumberland Ferries service at a public meeting Thursday in Montague, but left with more questions than answers.

There has been no ferry service between Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia since late September, and it could be weeks before the service starts up again — if it does at all this season.

For some, the reality of the service's frequent cancellations is bleak.

Dan Dupont works in forestry, and said he's leaving the province for work because so much of his product is shipped across on the ferry.

"It's emotional, because I have to leave my family. I can't work here anymore. Nov. 1, I'm going to Newfoundland," he said.

"I can't look after a family of five and stay here and cut wood for a living."

'I have to leave my family:' P.E.I. father heading to work off Island because of ferry disruptions

2 months ago

Duration 1:27

Dan Dupont says constant ferry cancellations and mechanical failures affecting the Northumberland Ferries service between Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia have put the profitability of his forestry work in jeopardy. So he says he has no option but to work off-Island and away from his family.

The meeting was organized by the Eastern P.E.I. Chamber of Commerce and was attended by officials from Transport Canada and Northumberland Ferries Ltd.

The seasonal ferry service across the Northumberland Strait was shut down in late September following engine problems with MV Saaremaa, which is being leased from Quebec's ferry service for a third season.

That news came on the heels of MV Confederation colliding with the wharf on Sept. 15, leaving a hole in the bow visor and making the passenger and vehicle ferry inoperable.

Northumberland Ferries has said the earliest Saaremaa could be back in service would be Oct. 19.

But during Thursday's meeting, company general manager Jeff Joyce said it's possible the vessel may not be ready before it's scheduled return to Quebec on Oct. 26.

In fact, he said there's no guarantee either the Saaremaa or the Confederation will be repaired before the service ends for the season on Dec. 20.

Joyce said the Confederation is still on track to be back in service Dec. 9, after repairs to the bow visor. Northumberland Ferries has also asked to operate the boat without the visor so it could sail earlier. Joyce said they have submitted a risk assessment to authorities and are waiting for an answer from Transport Canada. 

"This is visceral being here and feeling this. It is important for us to stay in touch with this stuff," Joyce said at the meeting.

"I want to make sure I'm generating trust in you by being transparent as I can be about what the situation is and what our plans are to fix it." 

Reducing bridge tolls?

Speaker after speaker talked about the importance of the ferry service, not just to eastern P.E.I., but to the entire Island.

"The uncertainty in the ferries has cost our company thousands of dollars each year, and it has a negative effect on our employees who use the ferries to cross the strait," said Brian Fortune, an oyster harvester from the area.

"We invested in eastern Nova Scotia based on a reliable, secure ferry service between the two provinces. Without the reliable ferry service, we will be forced to re-examine the economic viability of our current business model."

There were also calls for compensation for people who have to spend more on gas to take the Confederation Bridge to New Brunswick instead.

Cory Deagle, the MLA for Montague-Kilmuir and a cabinet minister, said government has been in discussions about what could be done, including the possibility of reducing the toll to cross the bridge.

"Obviously that's not going to replace what some businesses are losing that we heard here today. But that was one of the conversations that we had," Deagle said.

"I don't want to stand here and lie to you and try and just make something up to make you feel good, but that's my honest response to it."

The service is expecting a new boat next year. Transport Canada is planning to spend $43 million on a used Norwegian vessel, the MV Fanafjord.

That is meant as a temporary replacement for MV Holiday Island. A permanent replacement for Holiday Island was announced in 2019. In 2022, a fire on board the Holiday Island during a crossing led to it being scrapped.

The permanent replacement is still in the design phase. Its total cost is not yet known, and there is no clear timeline for the start of construction on that vessel.