Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Municipalities

News Release (May 25,2004)

Topic:

Successful meeting of municipal leaders results in formation of new Coalition to tackle emerging ferry service downgrades.

Under the auspices of Federation President Herb Brett, over 35 municipal leaders, representing over 50% of the Province's marine connected communities gathered today in St. John's. The group set out in its 4 hour meeting on a path to develop a strategy and action plan to address an emerging crisis facing over 40 ferry connected towns.

In recent months the Province's 16 intra-provincial ferry services, due to actions and inactions by Government, have seen a worsening of ferry services.
In particular:

a. The aged ferry fleet is edging closer to collapse with no new additions in over 15 years
b. The promised lowering of ferry rates over 5 years has been replaced with a planned 27.5% in increases.
c. Ferry service and schedules are being cut and downgraded
d. Government has failed to act to implement strike free status for ferry services.
e. The Labrador ferry service delivery model has come into question

After considerable discussion, the Group adopted a statement of principles and these are attached.




Five MHA's representing all parties spoke to the group and showed support for the issues. (Yvonne Jones, Oliver Langdon, Gerry Reid, Randy Collins, Kathie Goudie and Clyde Jackman

A new advocacy group was formed to represent the interests of ferry-connected communities. The Marine Transportation Coalition of Newfoundland and Labrador was established and an 8-member executive was put in place. Members include Federation chairperson Herb Brett, Mayor Gary Gosine from Bell Island, Clifford Rowe and Gerald McKenna from the Fogo Island area, John Anderson from Makovik, Mayor Agnes Pike from West St Modeste, Mayor Aubrey Rideout from Long Island and a South Coast nominee to be appointed later.

The new executive will meet in the near future to elect a chairperson. In the coming days the new executive will be seeking a meeting with the Minister of Transportation and Works and later a meeting with Cabinet.

These meetings will address the adopted statement of principles and seek resolutions leading to an affordable, effective, accessible and safe ferry service and proactive measures to promote the economies of our rural ferry connected towns.

For further information, please contact Herb Brett at the Federation Office or Mayor Gary Gosine at 749-9222.

See attachment- Statement of Principles





Marine Transportation Coalition of Newfoundland and Labrador

Statement of adopted Principles (May 2004)

TO SEEK HONOURING OF COMMITMENT TO CONSTRUCT NEW VESSELS
* To replace 30 to 40 year old unsafe vessels and to end 15 year freeze
* To seek an end to schedule disruptions and expensive breakdowns
* To ensure refits ferries at dockyards are expedited

TO SEEK STRIKE FREE FERRY SERVICES STATUS
* To have Government adopt the same policy as the Gulf service, ensuring no schedule disruptions during the strike
* To advocate on the Provincial service the same policy as the Gulf ferry service

TO SECURE HIGHWAY DESIGNATION FOR FERRY ROUTES
* To seek Provincial road designation and equivalent treatment

TO HAVE PROMISED LOWER FERRY RATES IMPLEMENTED
* To have Government implement equivalent cost of road travel policy
* To seek the honouring of the Blue Book Policy- Phased lowered rates over 5 years
* To ensure " Do as we say (Gulf), not as we do (Provincial).

TO HAVE A FAIR APPLICATION OF FERRY RATES
* To ensure rates when increased are implemented as approved
E.g. ($3.00 TIMES 10% IS NOT $3.50 or 18% for seniors, children etc)
* To secure comparable seniors/student discounts Province wide-50%

TO TARGET TO ENRICH SCHEDULES AND TO SAY NO TO SCHEDULE CUTS
* To prevent schedule cuts that harm island economies, tourism and jobs

TO SEEK A FAIR RESOLUTION OF LABRADOR FERRY SERVICES
* To help facilitate fair and considerate policies respecting the best delivery of service to Labrador communities

TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR 40 FERRY CONNECTED TOWNS
* To work for policies to support industries (fish processing and tourism)
* To dispel out migration policies that are not acceptable to Newfoundland and Labrador as a Province on the Gulf service and neither are they acceptable to intra-provincial ferry connected towns
* To achieve ferry services that are accessible, affordable and safe