No ferry promise from PCs or Liberals has Gagetown-area voters fuming

People living along Route 102 in Gagetown, Queenstown and Hampstead aren't pleased that neither the Liberal nor the Progressive Conservative leader will promiseto bring back the Gagetown Ferry the Liberalsabandoned in a surprise move more than two years ago.

Signs demanding the return of the Gagetown Ferry are plastered throughout communities on both sides of the St. John River, outnumbering election signs for localcandidates for election Sept. 24.

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"I know there's hundreds of signs," said Keith Comfort, who has been building a home on Route 102 in his retirement.

"But I don't think politicians can read."

Comfort has a large bluesignat the end of his drivewaywith a silhouette oftheformercar ferry on it that reads "Return Gagetown-JemsegFerry."

He keeps the sign for "for hope," not because hebelieves the major political parties are listening.

"I don't seriously think they're going to bring it back," Comfort said. "I hope it comes back, but I can't see it happening."

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But if a party leader does promise to return the boat, that's all it will take to switch a vote, according to some residents.

"I would," saidPhillipMerritt, who has livedin Queenstown all his life.

"Onthat single issue alone."

The ferry was removed in 2016 by the Gallant government, which cited maintenance and repair costs.

Shawn Graham's Liberal government shut down the HampsteadFerry in 2009 and announced it would also close the Gagetown Ferry. After a public backlash, the province decided to reduce crossings instead.

David Alward'sProgressive Conservatives ran the ferry 24/7.

But the boat was hauled away by Brian Gallant's Liberals, despite protests.

Now the ferry landing sits empty and abandoned in Gagetown, save for the seabirds and the mess they leave behind.

It's a near70-kilometre round-trip detour forresidents, whomust drivearound foreverything from medical appointments to church services.

Green Party Leader David Coon was sympathetic to protesters at the legislature who were angry about the damage done to residents, businesses and tourism by the removal of the ferry. He suggested the government build a new ferry at the shipyard the government bought in Bas-Caraquet.

But the Liberals under Gallant have swornnot to considerbringing back the ferry, and Progressive Conservative Leader BlaineHiggswill not make a commitment either.

For many along the river, the apparent unwillingness by the major party leaders to budge on the ferry shows they're out of touch with rural issues.

"It doesn't give me much hope in a political system if there's lots of handshaking happening but no actual connection with communities," Aiden Stanley said.

He said his small business took a hit almost overnight after the ferry was removed.