N.S.-P.E.I. ferry service 'not a priority' for federal government, says eastern P.E.I. MLA
Compton cites 'sense of distrust of Northumberland Ferries and for the ferry service'
Belfast-Murray River MLA Darlene Compton says she doesn't think the issues concerning the ferry service between Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia are a priority for the federal government.
"When you look at Ottawa, there are a lot of issues happening. And, you know, where does the ferry sit in all of this? I'm not sure," Compton told Island Morning's Laura Chapin on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the MV Confederation made its first crossing since Sept. 15 after the ship collided with the wharf in Wood Islands and damaged its bow visor, a type of raisable door.
But the ferry made only one round trip across the Northumberland Strait before a technical issue with the "load sharing" of its engines forced Northumberland Ferries Limited to cancel the remaining crossings. The company also cancelled Thursday's crossings due to the weather.
While a second ferry for the run, MV Fanafjord, is set to arrive soon and is supposed to be in service next year, Wood Islands Harbour needs to be dredged to accommodate the ship's hull depth. That work is not scheduled until next fall, so the ferry's ability to operate will be limited by the tides.
Compton said provincial officials have requested a meeting with federal Transportation Minister Anita Anand to discuss moving up the timeline for the dredging, but they haven't received a response yet.
In a statement to CBC News, Transport Canada said equipment commissioning and sea trials for the Fanafjord are underway. The federal government should take ownership of the vessel in the coming weeks, and at that time it will be prepared to travel to Canada, the agency said.
Compton said it would be helpful for P.E.I. government officials to have a conversation with Anand to discuss what the future looks like for the ferry service.
"It's really upsetting as a province," she said. "Who do we go to for answers? And who do we trust?"
Holiday Island II still under construction
Transport Canada said a replacement vessel for the MV Holiday Island — which caught fire during a crossing in 2022 amnd had to be scrapped — was contracted to the Davie shipyard in Quebec in 2019, and is still in the design phase.
Documents show the Holiday Island II was initially expected to arrive in P.E.I. five years after the contract was awarded.
According to Procurement Canada, the construction delay is because the ship is being designed for a 45-year service life. It said design work to ensure adequate capacity and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is "a complex, multi-step process."
Transport Canada also said there needs to be flexibility in the design so that future upgrades to the ship can be done without any major conversion work needed.
'We're not reinventing the wheel'
Compton said it's "unbelievable" that the Holiday Island II is still in the design phase, saying Public Services and Procurement Canada's reasoning doesn't explain the delay.
"We're not reinventing the wheel here," she said.
"There are a number of shipyards around the world who build vessels every day in a very timely manner and very efficient manner. To me, it's not acceptable."
Compton said she's concerned about how many crossings have been lost this year on the Wood Islands to Caribou run, and that it is a big concern for the provincial and eastern P.E.I. economies.
She also noted that there seems to be little concern about the fact that a reliable ferry service factors into the federal contingency plans if something were to happen to the Confederation Bridge, which connects P.E.I. to New Brunswick and is the main way for vital supplies to enter and exports to leave the province.
"The federal government said... 'Well, we'd find a ferry.' Well, if they can find a ferry for an emergency — I think we're already in emergency."
It's just really hard to believe that the service has gotten to where it is now.— Darlene Compton, Belfast-Murray River MLA
NFL said Wednesday's technical issues have now been resolved. The company said the weather conditions for Friday are being closely monitored, and further updates will be provided about when crossings will resume.
The cancellation is disheartening for Islanders and travellers, said Compton, adding that the level of community support for Northumberland Ferries is very low at the moment.
"It's just really hard to believe that the service has gotten to where it is now… We have a sense of distrust of Northumberland Ferries and for the ferry service."
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With files from Island Morning