Will larger ferries stay in service for Brier Island?
Last weekend many community members held a meeting to voice concerns about a potential plan to switch to the backup ferry, which carries less vehicles.
The ruling came from Transport Canada, who asked the province to hire extra staff for the ‘Margret’s Justice’ to meet safety regulations, or else it would be pulled from the route.
Digby-Annapolis MLA Jill Balser says the message from the Brier Island residents was received loud and clear, and actions are being taken.
She says the department of Public Works will do better with communications and action, as residents deserve a reliable and safe ferry.
Balser commits to coming back to the island as soon as possible with news to share.
Letter to island residents from Digby-Annapolis MLA Jill Balser:
To the residents, businesses, tourism operators and friends of Brier Island and Long Island,
I want to thank you for attending the public meeting held at the Brier Island Lodge this past Saturday. Your concerns and worries for your ferry were felt by all who attended. I appreciated the questions asked and the frustration expressed from the current situation, from the lack of communication, and from the feeling that nothing was being done. I want to assure you that following the meeting actions outlined from the meeting are underway. With the input and feedback provided to myself as the MLA and to the Department, we will do better with communications and action. You deserve a reliable and safe ferry service. One that will not be taken, disrupted or jeopardized. I hope you can trust that I will do everything I can to see this though.
A summary of the meeting prepared by Minister Tilley’s Special Advisor, who accompanied me to the meeting, will be circulated to the Village Commissions for the public to see. Should anyone have any questions, I will be happy to answer them. And as we continue to receive answers and updates from Transport Canada, I will notify you.
I made a commitment to come back with an update to the community and I will honour that commitment. It is my plan to be back in Westport as soon as possible with news to share. When a date, time and location is set, I will advise the community.
I also made the commitment to provide the information required to submit a petition to the House of Commons and the Provincial House of Assembly. I have shared this information with the Westport Village Commission who will prepare petitions for residents to sign. And I will help advance the provincial petition to the legislature.
Other actions discussed at the meeting included letter writing. Should you wish to write a letter to the Minister responsible for Transport Canada, or to the Department of Public Works, that is an important action you can take. Please contact my office if you wish to write a letter and need assistance with where to send it and to whom to address it to.
I wish to thank Gordie O’Neill and Shelley Lonergan for chairing the meeting, Councillor Peter Scherer for attending and facilitating notes during the discussion, Amy Tudor for ensuring community participation was shared with all residents, and the Brier Island Lodge for hosting the meeting.
I truly appreciated everyone’s time, passion, and dedication Saturday evening. A clear direction was given to myself and the department to move quickly to keep Margret’s Justice in operation, and to not allow any disruptions to occur at this crucial time of year.
Thank you again to all who attended and to everyone who has reached out to my office expressing their concerns for the ferry service.
Lastly, to the ICS Grads of 2025, I hope you had an incredible prom night 
by Kevin Northup
