Stephenville-Port au Port MHA and Progressive Conservative leadership candidate, Tony Wakeham, is crediting the public outcry over Marine Atlantic’s proposed rate hike for their decision to delay the increase – but for Wakeham, delaying the increase is simply not good enough, it should be cancelled.
As Marine Atlantic evaluates ongoing fuel pricing measures, including the implementation of the federal carbon tax this summer, the Crown corporation has opted to delay the implementation of the updated fuel surcharge until at least December 1, 2023. The current thirteen per cent fuel surcharge will remain in place until that time.
Wakeham said, “The federal government should order Marine Atlantic, not just to delay the increase in gulf ferry rates, but to cancel the rate increases outright. We are already paying too much. Ottawa must abandon the cost recovery approach to this service, in recognition of its crucial importance to our province, and keep rates from rising.”
Wakeham argues that other Canadians do not face such obstacles to travel, including those who rely on the Confederation Bridge on PEI.
“The gulf ferry is our Trans-Canada Highway link to the rest of the country. These rates affect the cost of goods that are trucked in by ferry, the competitiveness of local businesses that truck goods out, and our tourism industry on which thousands of our people rely on. We should not be treated as second hand citizens by the decision makers in Ottawa, and it’s time for the Premier to call on the Prime Minister to recognize that,” said Wakeham.
“It’s time for the right leader who is effective in getting across loud and clear messages about the challenges Newfoundland and Labrador faces and the public policies we require from the Government of Canada to achieve equity in the federation.”
