Tancook Island residents talk ferry problems with province

Tancook Islands residents met Wednesday with provincial officials to talk about the ferry, which shuttles people back and forth from the mainland to the islands.

Residents are frustrated the William G. Ernst's capacity was reduced from 90 to 45 last month because the ferry does not meet new federal regulations.

At the meeting, Big Tancook Island resident Ross MacKenziesummed up his frustration with a few words.

You wasted a whole day of my time," he said.

Speaking with CBC News, he said people on the Island are unsure about the ferry's schedule.

People on the island, they don't know day to day whether the ferry's going to be running today, he said.

An official with the provincial government tried to reassure residentsthe ferry was safe.

"Again, let me reassure you that ferry is safe. It hasn't changed, OK," said John Majchrowicz, the manager of marine services for the province.

"It's the same ferry that's been operating here for 30 years."

The ferry is operating on a temporary permit which expires in November. The province has until then to convince Transport Canada the ferry is safe. Provincial officials hope to do that by conducting a study of the stability of the ship.

They say it will prove the 32-year-old vessel is fine.

If Transport Canada disagrees, the province said it will find a substitute until the problem is fixed.

"We're not going to leave you folks stranded," said Majchrowicz.

Residents say they are also looking for better communication to keep them up to date about what is happening with the vessel.

Little Tancook Island resident Blair Wheatonhopes the solution for fixing the ferry's woes is not a short-term one.

"I think its going to be a Band-Aid solution and I'm really sad that we tend to go with crisis management, knee-jerk reactions to issues as they come up every day instead of having a long-term strategic plan for replacing it," he said.