Minister wants federal action on Marine Atlantic

St. John's - Transportation Minister Dianne Whalen says she has the support of her three Maritime colleagues in pressing for improvements to the Marine Atlantic ferry service linking Newfoundland to Nova Scotia.

Whalen says the other Transportation ministers plan to endorse a letter of support backing Newfoundland and Labrador's stand. That letter is currently being drafted, Whalen noted.

"Under our constitutional right, we've got that right to have a reliable and affordable ferry service," Whalen told Transcontinental Media Monday.

The province wants three things to happen, according to Whalen:

an end to fare hikes, with rates rolled back 15 per cent below their 2006 levels;

declaring the service essential, which would exempt it from potential strike actions;

the construction of new made-in-Canada vessels to be put into service.

Whalen said the demands are not part of the provincial government's ABC - Anything But Conservative - campaign.

"Not only in election time is this an important issue, this is an important issue 12 months around for the province," she noted.

Marine Atlantic has its own heading on a list of questions Premier Danny Williams recently sent the leaders of the three major federal parties.

A federal Conservative spokesman said the Harper government shares the province's concern, which is why it recently announced $100 million to provide a new ferry.

"If Minister Whalen is really concerned about Marine Atlantic fares, she should join the fight against the Liberal carbon tax," spokesman Steve Outhouse said.

Outhouse claimed the Liberal green shift would add seven cents per litre of diesel, while the Conservative plan would cut the diesel excise tax in half over the next four years.

"This is another example of how ABC puts ministers in the bizarre situation of telling people to vote against something that would help lower transportation costs and the cost of living for average Newfoundlanders and Labradorians," Outhouse said.

"It's clearly not about doing what's best for the people; it's strictly bad politics."

No committment

Liberal Leader Stephane Dion told Transcontinental Media Monday he would consider investing more into Marine Atlantic.

But Dion said the Liberals won't run a deficit, and he therefore couldn't commit to anything for Marine Atlantic until he was sure the country could afford it.

Dion said budget surpluses would be invested into infrastructure such as new vessels for Marine Atlantic, and those new ferries would have to be more fuel-efficient than the ones operating now - something he said will keep costs down for passengers.

On Friday, NDP Leader Jack Layton called the Marine Atlantic link to this province very important.

He said his party was studying the situation with Marine Atlantic carefully, but the New Democrats also don't believe in putting the country in debt.

Layton does support any new Marine Atlantic vessels being built in Canada, as part of a revived shipbuilding industry.