MP Lawrence MacAulay says his phone has been ringing regularly since the coronavirus (COVID-19 strain) pandemic started to impact P.E.I.
At least some of those calls have been to express concerns surrounding the delay of the Wood Islands ferry service — what he calls an important link for the economy of his Cardigan riding, which encompasses eastern P.E.I.
"I've been in politics for over 30 years and (a reliable ferry service has) always been an issue," the Liberal member said.
"This delay certainly hurts."
The service was anticipated to begin May 1, putting public health measures at the forefront and only permitting essential travel.
But Northumberland Ferries Limited (NFL), which operates the service between Wood Islands and Caribou, N.S., announced on April 17 the start of the season would be delayed until at least June 1.
Don Cormier, the company's general manager, said the benefit of this decision — which was made at the recommedation of P.E.I. and Nova Scotia's chief public health officers — is limiting the number of entry points between both provinces and thus the movement of people.
"Nova Scotia, for example, is already managing three road locations," Cormier said in an email to The Guardian.
"If minimizing the number of ports of entry contributes (to) better public health for our communities, then NFL accepts the advice provided."
Cormier also noted P.E.I.'s recent decision to declare a state of emergency, which is in place until 11:59 p.m. on April 30. This, and the delay, will enable the various agencies involved to identify and deploy resources for future entry points, which will include the Wood Islands port, he said.
While essential off-Island travel may continue via the Confederation Bridge, the longer the ferry is delayed, the more eastern P.E.I. may feel it.
Russell Compton, president of the Eastern P.E.I. Chamber of Commerce, compared it to the summer of 2016, when the ferry service was temporarily reduced to one ferry for most of the summer.
Many Kings County companies saw about 50 to 60 per cent of their business impacted that season, according to chamber records.
"Because of the virus, they're already impacted by about 70 per cent (this year)," Compton said.
The delay will largely impact eastern-based trucking companies, as they'll have to continue driving further out of their way to access Nova Scotia via the Confederation Bridge, which normally wouldn't be a concern this time of year.
"They've still got to go on and off the Island," he said. "It adds six to seven hours on every trip."
This will further impact the farmers and businesses of Kings County, as they still need their deliveries to keep up operations. For example, many farms in the area rely on spreading lime, which they have shipped over from Nova Scotia.
Compton said he believes the trucking companies themselves could take the bigger hit, mostly because they wouldn't want to raise rates and put further strain on the finances of local farms and businesses.
"Because that's the way Islanders are," he said.
"We all look after each other."
He doesn't see why the ferry couldn't have been opened on time exclusively for essential travel, ensuring public health measures are in place for all. He's spoken with his group's counterparts in Nova Scotia, who are also concerned about the delay's implications.
"The issue can be easily and effectively handled," he said. "Why punish eastern P.E.I. for having the truckers drive an extra seven hours per trip?"
MacAulay said he's been doing what he can to work with the province and Transport Canada to ensure the service gets back up and running soon.
"I would like to see the ferry started as quickly as possible because it's costing us every day," he said.
When asked whether there's a risk of losing the service altogether as a result of these setbacks, MacAulay replied, "Absolutely not".
N.S. FERRIES
The ferry service connecting Nova Scotia and New Brunswick is operating on a daily basis.
Bay Ferries Limited, the parent company of NFL, is continuing that service because it has a lower frequency of crossings and thus requires fewer resources, Don Cormier said in an email.
"This ferry service is a year-round service which was already in operation with a program of sanitation protocols, pre-screening and management of customer movements to create self-distance before interprovincial travel restrictions were introduced."
