2009-03-26
14:11:41
(Supporters of three river ferries rally on the front steps of the Legislature – photo by Gary MacDonald)
They carried signs and sang songs — about 300-people converging on the Legislature over the noon hour to protest the planned cut of the Gagetown – Hampstead – and – Belleisle ferries.
Gagetown mayor Randy Smith says the ferries can be a vital part on Premier Graham’s road to self sufficiency — he says the ferries are part of the rural road system which could turned into a tourism promotion to keep visitors from driving through on the Trans Canada highway.
But — Transportation Minister Denis Landry isn’t backing down — he says he doesn’t have any wiggle room in his budget — and — when asked by CHSJ News how many ferries may suffer the same fate next year — Landry responded we will have to wait until next year.
The communities have until the end of April to come up with solutions to keep the ferries afloat.