Ottawa’s study finally underway?

In an interview last week, Kerr said he isn’t certain why there is a delay in the process but he does know a consultants’ group has been engaged. He said he planned to get further information upon returning to Ottawa in September. “The intention was that they would report early this fall,” he said “It’s still (going to be) this fall, but I don’t know how early now and I can’t tell you why it was delayed.”

Although there are a lot of questions to be answered, Kerr described the process as “the last and final recommendation on where we go (with the service).”

Because the study is actually a western traffic survey, Kerr said the study would also look at Yarmouth.

From his perspective, Kerr said he believes there needs to be ferry service between Digby and Saint John as well as a ferry service operating out of Yarmouth.

While he doesn’t believe it should be an either-or scenario, Kerr said he hopes the result of the study is a clear definition of what kind of service would succeed in each port.

In the case of Digby, Kerr said he’d like to see more effort and attention paid to fostering relationships with Saint John. Although many small communities in Nova Scotia worry about their ties to Halifax, Kerr said it only makes sense for Digby to grow its ties with Saint John. He is already discussing the idea with MPs from New Brunswick and Kerr said he’s encouraged by what he’s hearing. “What they’re looking at very, very strongly is what are the market opportunities in Saint John and what does Saint John, as an area, gain from this linkage.”

Once questions about potential markets, services and sales can be answered, Kerr said he believes interest in the link could be renewed by fresh activity. “It’s looking at some of the things we did differently to get more traffic on there,” he said. “It’s an absolute established linkage. We’ve got to use it, but it’s certainly an essential part of our transportation system.”

As for whether that would translate into a greater role for the federal government in the services in Digby and Yarmouth, Kerr said he would wait for the results of the study before commenting. “There’s no question the feds have a responsibility,” he said. “How it works, how it partners, I’m hoping (the study) comes up with some different and innovative ways to look at that.”

Another transportation link that is in the market for federal dollars is the Yarmouth airport.

Kerr said he is aware that airport officials will, at some point, approach the federal government with a funding request. However the subject of small airports isn’t as easy to navigate as ferries, he said, largely because there was such a move by Ottawa years ago to get away from them.

Kerr said he believes such airports would have to be treated on a case-by-case basis and have to demonstrate that they justify funding before a conversation could even begin. Although there is a review of municipal airports happening in Ottawa, Kerr said the idea of the federal government getting involved again is one that comes with a lot of reluctance.

With that in mind, the Yarmouth airport might have as strong a case as any, he said, especially if the state of Maine becomes more involved in the operation. “There are those making a very strong commercial case,” he said. “One of the things here, I guess, is also establishing what is the long-term link going to be with Maine. That, I think, would add a lot of leverage. It’s got to show growth, it’s got to show future opportunity, that type of thing.”

Air service in Yarmouth is always a precarious operation but Kerr said from what he’s seen so far things here are heading in the right direction. He added that he believes, cautiously, that the service looks like it will be viable.