|
|||||
| Return to 2005 News Releases | |||||
|
|
News
Release |
||||
|
Parsons pleased drop-trailer service to remain in effect Calls upon federal minister to act on other recommendations November 16, 2005
|
|||||
|
Kelvin Parsons, MHA for the District of Burgeo-Lapoile, says he is pleased
that the federal government has decided to continue the drop-trailer service
at Marine Atlantic’s terminal in Port aux Basques, and that the Government
of Canada supports the construction of a second dock at the Port aux Basques
facility. Earlier this year, an advisory committee examining the future of Marine Atlantic made 41 recommendations for improving the ferry service. While some of these recommendations were viewed as positive, the recommendation to discontinue the drop-trailer service in Port aux Basques was greeted with fear and opposition. Many people on the southwest coast believed it would have a negative impact on the local economy. "I was very pleased to hear yesterday’s decision by Minister Lapierre," said Mr. Parsons. "The future of the drop-trailer service and the construction of a second dock were two of the more significant recommendations in this report. The decision to construct a second dock in Port aux Basques comes as welcome news. This will hopefully make the facility more efficient and capable of providing a much stronger service to the people who use the ferry. "Many people in our region are also breathing a sigh of relief that the federal government dismissed the recommendation to remove the drop-trailer service from the Port aux Basques terminal, a decision that would have had a very negative economic impact on the southwest coast. It is very encouraging that through further consultation and discussion with truckers and community stakeholders, the minister realized that this was not the right course of action to take. "Now that Minister Lapierre has acted upon two of these recommendations, I encourage him to move forward with another from the report. The advisory committee recommended that the headquarters of Marine Atlantic be moved to Port aux Basques from St. John’s. I encourage the minister take this recommendation very seriously and proceed with this plan. The headquarters should be in Port aux Basques where the main service is provided. Action to begin this process should be taken sooner rather than later, and I will once again be approaching Transport Canada for a timely response to this matter."
|
|||||
|
Media Contact: |
|||||
