Office of the Official Opposition 

McKenna Questions Furey Liberals on MV Veteran Progress

For Immediate Release

(June 20, 2024, St. John’s, N.L.) – Today, PC Shadow Minister for Transportation Jim McKenna (MHA, Fogo Island – Cape Freels) is calling on Transportation and Infrastructure Minister John Abbott and the Furey Liberal Government to come out of witness protection and update the residents of Fogo Island and Change Islands on the status of the MV Veteran.

The Furey Liberal Government last issued a statement on Sunday, June 16, noting that the MV Veteran was still preparing for sea trials and that a further update would be provided on Monday, June 17. Since then, the Furey Liberals have been radio silent to the residents of Fogo and Change Islands on when the MV Veteran will return.

“Once again, the residents of Fogo Island and Change Islands are pleading government to step up and give timely updates on the MV Veteran,” said McKenna. “We see large line-ups with dozens of cars and freight trucks forming in Farewell and Fogo Island. With both islands in their peak tourism season and when user rates are at their highest, residents are becoming anxious. Waiting in line-ups for hours on end and to not get home until 4:00 a.m. is deplorable and unacceptable.”

McKenna said the lack of transparency on the return of the MV Veteran from the Furey Liberal Government is just one of the many underlying problems, citing a lack of a ferry maintenance management plan and shore-based manager for the Notre Dame Bay ferry route. He also raised that the Furey Liberals cannot continue to pit island against island due to a limited number of ferries in the system.

“Without a ferry maintenance management plan or a shore-based manager, the Furey Liberals are avoiding the issues affecting our provincial ferry fleet. When problems occur, people seek answers, and the government should respond promptly and transparently, but they are not getting those answers right now. These residents deserve better, and as their MHA, I will keep advocating on their behalf to get the answers and transparency they deserve.”

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