New ferry won't operate under foreign flag, says David Brazil

The province's minister of Transportation and Works says the new Fogo Island-Change Islandferry is only using a foreign flag while in transport to Canada, dismissing concerns from the opposition that it would operate under the flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, a small nation in the Caribbean.

• Province's newest ferry flagged for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Minister David Brazil says the Dutch company that built the MV Veteran, Damen Shipyards Group, made the decision to register the ferry in a foreign country.

"It's a standard process that they use. there's nothing out of the way here," Brazil said, adding it's normal procedure for European companies.

Brazil also promised the ferry will not operate in Newfoundland and Labrador with the foreign flag.

"The day it leaves port in St. John's to go for Fogo Island-Change Island service, it will have Canadian flag,"said Brazil.

'No intention' of paying tarriffs

On Thursday,Liberal transportation critic Tom Osborne raised concerns the foreign flag was a distraction to the real issue of how the province will pay the $12.5-million tariff due on the foreign ferry once it arrives.

Brazil said the province fully expects the federal government to pardon that tariff, as well as the $12.5-million tariff on the new ferry for the Bell Island run.

"At this point, I have no intentions of paying tariffs," he said. "I don't feel we need to pay those."

Brazil said he plans to be in Ottawa immediately after the Oct. 19 federal election to lobby Ottawafor an exemption.

Although, if either ferry is ready for service before the federal government makes a decision on the matter, Brazil said the province has a tariff payment plan of $100,000 a month ready.

Brazil said whether or not the province actually pays the tariffs in the end, the two ferries were "by far, the best deal for taxpayers."