JERSEY COVE, N.S. — A Cape Breton MLA is asking the province to reopen discussions on creating a fixed link between Englishtown and Jersey Cove.
A passenger ferry service has been operating between the two communities at the mouth of St. Anns Bay in Victoria County for roughly 45 years.
It is the busiest of seven ferries run by the province and operates year-round.
Victoria-The Lakes MLA Keith Bain said over the years there have been endless interruptions in service.
Most recently, the vessel has been drydocked in North Sydney since December.
“With the opening of Ski Cape Smokey and everything, there is going to be more and more traffic all the time,” said Bain, a PC party member and deputy caucus whip.
“And yes, I know that they’ll say that St. Ann’s loop is all paved and it’s great travelling, and it is, but you still have businesses on both sides of the ferry.”
Without the ferry in operation, the shortest route from one side of the existing ferry to the other is a roughly 42-kilometre stretch using Highway 105 as well as the Cabot Trail.
The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal said the Torquil MacLean was pulled from service to undergo a thorough inspection by Transport Canada that is required every five years.
Ferry hauling delays were encountered due to inclement weather and an examination later uncovered the need for several repairs, including gauging and rewelding.
Plate strips that protect the hull from damage also showed signs of excessive wear and cracking and the ferry is being completely repainted.
Bain said that residents are frustrated with the forever vanishing ferry.
“They say once they get it finished they’ve got to wait for the right weather to tow it back, and once it gets hooked up to the cable they have to wait to have an inspection done before they can open it,” said Bain.
“Drift ice will be coming into the harbour at the same time. Is that going to shut it down or cause more interruptions?”
Bain said the province should seriously consider replacing the ferry with a bridge as traffic is slated to increase ahead of a $100-million redevelopment of an Ingonish area ski hill and proposed four-season destination.
Bain says the province should be giving out a refund to motorists who purchased ferry passes that are valid for a calendar year.
“Unfortunately, we cannot offer a refund on last year’s annual pass,” department spokesperson Marla MacInnis said last week.
“When the ferry returns to service this year, the cost for an annual pass will be reduced for the remainder of the year.”
Not unaware of the problems facing the passenger service, in 2015 the Nova Scotia government completed a feasibility study that examined replacing the Englishtown ferry with a bridge.
The study found that the project could run upwards of $45 million.
At this time, the province says a bridge replacement is not in the department’s capital program.
