Bell Island Ferry Users Committee  Budget 2005 impacts on Bell Island services

This article is being written on March 21 and the Provincial Budget has just been announced. We do not have full details. Below please find the Bell Island some early observations on the budget issues and what impacts there may be for Bell Island It appears to be a good news and bad news budget for Bell Island SCHEDULE PROTECTION (VERY GOOD NEWS) It appears that the 2 vessel schedule and existing trips have been protected and funded for 2005 and this is a major accomplishment. The Committee has worked extremely hard in cooperation with our MHA on this crucial service level protection. NEW REPLACEMENT VESSEL STALLED The replacement of the Hamilton Sound with a new 28 car vessel appears to be slowly moving forward with a somewhat disappointing $500,000 set aside in 2005 for studies leading towards a vessel construction program. Further delays are only increasing a worsening chaos in the lack of available suitable and safe vessels. FERRY RATE INCREASES? While not referenced in the Budget Speech the ferry rates estimates are showing a 5% increase and a 5% increase had been scheduled for April 1. For some reason Labrador based services are exempt.The Committee is disappointed that the Government is not honouring its commitment to phase in lower rates over 5 years and has appealed for no increase and a rate freeze APPLICATION OF FERRY RATES INCREASE UNFAIR The Committee lodged objections last year when the 10% increase approved by Cabinet was implemented at 17% in some cases by rounding up to the highest quarter and not the nearest quarter. The $3.00 adult rate went to $3.50 in 2004 or 17% way in excess of the 10%. This rate should not increase this year and any other rate that was rounded incorrectly. Stay tuned if a promised correction is not made and express your displeasure both with the increase and the the method the increase is applied. LITTLE FUNDING TO ADDRESS UNSAFE DOCKS? Recently sections of the docks on Bell Island and Portugal Cove were declared unsafe and unusable and significant funding is needed to make them safe. Regretfully only $1,000,000 was allocated in the Budget for capital dock improvements to be spent on the highest priority of the 32 docks in the 16 Provincial ferry services. We are not sure what monies have been reserved to fix the life safety concerns on our docks which is not acceptable. PROVINCIAL ROADS FUNDING SHARE FOR BELL ISLAND UNCERTAIN The Provincial Road program has $33,000,000 allocated and we live in hope for a fair share for Bell Island Highways Division roads. The Committee has also asked for an allocation from this pot to widen the unsafe section of the ferry line-up lane in the Cove near the Rock cut. HOSPITAL SERVICES APPEAR TO BE SPARED It appears no reductions have been made to the Bell Island Hospital operation and the Federal Study Group's report due soon is being anxiously awaited with hoped for positive recommendations for the future. MUNICIPAL PROJECTS FUNDING UNKNOWN Monies to support water supply, town municipal road paving projects and recreational projects for 2005 are not allocated in the Provincial budget separately and the Town of Wabana has to negotiate these funds. For further into contact the Town Council. DEVELOPMENT FUNDS ALLOCATIONS FOR RURAL AREAS SEEMS TO BE SUBSTANTIVE AND COULD BENEFIT BELL ISLAND As the deadline for this month's newsletter is upon us we have had no time to follow-up on the Budget impacts on Bell Island and would suggest contact be made with MHA Minister Whalen and Mayor Gosine for further details. WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU FOLLOW-UP YOUR QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ON THE PROVINCIAL BUDGET WITH YOUR MHA's Office Compiled by Ed Kent