PETITION-Bell Island Ferry Services
(Presented in the House of Assembly in April 2004)

To the Honourable House of Assembly of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, in Parliament assembled, we the undersigned petitioners of Bell Island, as in duty bound, petition, humbly pray and call upon the House of Assembly.
Whereas at a March 30, 2004 public meeting assembled on Bell Island, residents had gathered to consider an impending crisis facing Bell Island due to a threatened blockade of their marine highway by a public service strike.
Whereas the Provincial Budget of 2004 had proposed measures to reduce ferry services and raise ferry rates with significant negative impacts to the Community's economic future.

A. Reconsideration of ferry rate increases:
That proposed ferry rate increases of 25% slated for implementation for the on Island portion of our Province services only, not be approved for implementation.
That instead, Government continue to Party policy contained in the PC 2003 Blue Policy Book specifically " phase in adjustments over a 5-year period to bring rates on provincial ferry routes in line with the cost of highway travel" be implemented in its place, with lower rates, not higher rates.
That Government ferry rate policy be applied in a manner consistent with Government's own pleas to the Federal Government not to increase Gulf ferry rates and that Government adopt Intra- Provincial rates based on the equivalent cost of road travel.

B. Reconsideration of proposals to reduce Bell Island's ferry service and schedule by 20%:
That the proposed 20% reduction in Bell Island's 21 daily round trip schedules by 4 trips to 17 trips be reconsidered. That the long-standing core schedule not be changed. That the 2 vessels operating together on the service not be reduced from 8 hours daily to 3 hours.
That the restriction to limit daily sailing hours to 12 hours on Bell Island's service only is unfair and that it be lifted in favour of a minimum of 14 daily sailing hours per vessel on all Intra- provincial ferry services.
That schedule cuts not be implemented as they will cripple Bell Island's growing economy, threaten the jobs of Bell Island's 850 employed workforce and trigger major increased and counterproductive budgetary spending resulting in increased Government income support payments to displaced workers.
That shutting down one of Bell Island's 2 ferries at peak traffic at 5 pm would be equivalent to shutting down one of the 2 exit lanes on the TCH from the City at 5 pm and neither is acceptable.

C. Proceed with an investment in 2004 to construct a new Provincial replacement ferry:
That consistent with the policy position laid out in the PC 2003 Blue Policy Book; as well as consistent with a 2001 House of Assembly resolution; and further consistent to a plea by the Auditor General in annual reports that Government move forward to build new replacement ferries.
That in view of an incontestable desperate need for new ferries to replace an aged fleet, that Government secure lease financing in 2004 and undertake an economic investment to construct a new replacement ferry for the Hamilton Sound at a Provincial shipyard.

D. Appeal for fairness for Bell Island in any 2004 ferry service schedule reductions:
That in applying any reductions in ferry service schedules for 2004 that Bell Island not be singled out as the only ferry service out of the 16 Intra- Provincial ferry services to have a cut apply to its scheduled trips.
That the loss of 4 trips daily or a 20% cut in scheduled service with no cuts in the schedules of other services would not be fair and will result in serious economic consequences for Bell Island and that the decision be revisited.
That schedule cuts will hamper Bell Island's rural rejuvenation and renewal leading to rural economic stagnation and should not be approved.

E. Seek to re-negotiate essential services agreement, which resulted in a cut of 95 % to schedule.
That NAPE be requested to reconsider the January 2004 essential services strike agreement, which reduced Bell Island's ferry schedule from 21 trips to an unacceptable 1 single daily trip to Bell Islanders and Bell Island's economy.
That as a minimum during the strike 4 round trips be provided.

F. Move to have all 16 Intra- Provincial ferry services designated as strike free:
As Government, in order to protect the health and safety of its residents and the economy, has successfully lobbied the Federal Government to declare the Gulf Ferry service as strike free with a full schedule during labour disputes, than the Provincial Government act quickly to extend the same right to its own 16 Intra-Provincial ferry services.
That land and marine highways not be blockaded, preventing users from travelling and thus compromising public health and safety as recently ruled by the Canadian Labour Tribunal Board in November 2003 on the Gulf service.

As in duty bound your petitioners humbly pray.(1850 signers)