Marine Atlantic gets funding, on the Cons terms

Ok, so ( ) when I am poisoned about something I will write a blog post.  Today it is the budget.  While there are many things that the budget failed miserably on, including environment, the arts, poverty, and other things that the ‘big boys’ don’t have to worry about, the funding that is proposed for Marine Atlantic is the thing that really boiled my pee.

According to CBC NL, Liberal MP Gerry Byrne, who represents Humber-St.Barbe-Baie Verte, in western Newfoundland, says “people in his province won’t be happy when they hear where the $175 million promised in the federal budget for the Marine Atlantic ferry service is going.”

No, I guess they won’t!  And neither will any of the Newfoundland natives that return to the province every year by ferry.  Add the tourists, and you’ve spawned a recipe for financial disaster for any business on the island that relies on tourism!

Apparently most of the money will be spent on leasing and retrofitting the two sister ships of a vessel, the Atlantic Vision, that is already in service from Port-Aux-Basques to North Sydney.

As a person who uses this ferry service, at least 4 times per year, I feel confident saying that investing in two more ships that are laid out like the Atlantic Vision is a $175 million dollar mistake.

Having had the opportunity to travel on the Vision a few times this year, I can tell you it is a VERY nice ship.  The decor is lovely, the buffet is delicious and the cabins are beautiful, they even have down filled duvets!  But the Atlantic Vision ferry does not offer the adequate seating or accommodations to suit the budget of most families that would use the service.  Cabins are available and very comfortable, if you are willing to pay the price (130.00/night), adding 260.00 bucks to a round trip.  In the end, if you can not afford a cabin you are relegated to sitting upright in a dinner chair for 6-8 hours, with NO option.  Keep in  mind, seats are scarce.  And the buffet is non-negotiable, you pay a  flat fee, around $15/person, and that is the only option.   This could, and will, change the travel plans of those who can not afford to fly to and from the province.  They will not be able to afford to travel by ferry either.     The Atlantic Vision has also had many issues docking in Port-aux-Basques, N.L. On one occasion it ran aground. On another, its hull was punctured when it hit the dock.  The harbour is simply not big enough to handle the jumbo ship.  There have also been a couple of on board fires in the last year.   There are  2 other ships in service on the Gulf, the M.V. Smallwood and M.V. Caribou.  Both jumbo ships in their own right.   They both offer large seating areas distributed throughout the ship across multiple decks. Cabins and Dormitory Sleepers are also available. There are options for everyone’s budget – the cabins provide the most comfort at the highest cost (130.00 for a 4-berth, night crossing) , while dorm sleepers are cheep alternative (~$20.00), and seats are plentiful and FREE!    I have also travelled on both of these ships, too  many times to count, actually.  Having the alternative of a cheap bunk is usually how we go.  There’s no need to pay 130 bucks for a cabin, it’s only for 6-8 hours, and you don’t get a good sleep anyway, cabin, or no cabin.  It saves us $140.00 per visit, which we usually spend in some shops around the Stephenville area.

So, where does that all end?  Investing $175 million dollars in two more ferries that are:

1. more expensive to travel on;
2. not as comfortable; 
3. less reliable;
4. ill-suited to the needs of those tax payers who actually use the ferry service.
5. going to lead to decreased tourism

 

The CBC reports that Federal Transportation Minister John Baird wasn’t available for comment on Thursday evening.  Make no wonder! He wouldn’t have a clue what he was talking about!  I don’t know for sure, but I might just place a financial wager on the fact that he had never traveled to Newfoundland by ferry. 

I don’t know that I have the right answer, but these two sister ships to the Vision are not it.  There MUST be a way to accommodate more than one brand of traveller.  Putting 2 more ships of this caliber on the run between NS and NL will not serve the travelling tax-payer, who is subsidising this service, well at all.

Don’t even get me started on the names that are proposed for these ferries!  The Mila and Brian Mulroney and the Jean and John Crosbie.  Ask most Newfoundlanders and they will most likely say that there are better names for either vessel!  How about the M.V. Newfoundland? The M.V. Labrador?

In light of a possible loss of words in the Anthem, The M.V. True North and the M.V. Strong and Free?  That kind of goes nice with The M.V. Atlantic Vision.  Just please, don’t let them be sister ships to the Vision!

There you have it, The Straight Goods.

This was first posted on my blog site: www.marlenewells.wordpress.com