Tickets for Yarmouth-Maine ferry to go on sale as early as Monday: minister
Posted Apr 7, 2016 03:54:29 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
HALIFAX – Nova Scotia’s transport minister says tickets for the revamped ferry service to Maine should go on sale this Monday.
Geoff MacLellan says Bay Ferries made the commitment earlier and he expects the company to keep its promise.
“There’s a number of different packages and discounts that they are working on. So collectively to get those things together and finalized for April 11th is the focus at this point. Once those gates open up, so to speak, we’ll see what the reaction is from the market,” MacLellan said.
MacLellan says Bay Ferries is in charge of the fares, and adds they are moving as quickly as they can to release them to the public.
“They have the I-T and infrastructure in place to do this properly, and obviously the fees and schedules are a part of that. So when Bay Ferries is ready, it’ll be live,” said MacLellan.
MacLellan adds the province was thrilled to learn the federal government set aside funds for ferry services in its spring budget, but the province has yet to hear whether it will get any money.
The province has faced stiff criticism for the 10-year deal it signed last month with Bay Ferries, with some critics saying the government is taking on too much risk in the venture.
Conservative Leader Jamie Baillie issued a statement Thursday saying the government’s $10.2-million subsidy in the first year amounts to a $170 subsidy for each expected passenger, assuming Bay Ferries meets its goals.
MacLellan says the deal is the best the province could do after a rigorous review process.
