The Ontario Government has given Loyalist Township $400,000 in additional funding to help get the Amherst Islander II into service as soon as possible. According to Deputy Mayor Nathan Townend, this funding will go towards training for the staff. The current delay in training, among a long list of other issues, have been causing a large overall delay in progress.
Loyalist Township staff have been working to get the vessel in service but are dealing with an industry-wide shortage of workers and delays in communication from the Ministry of Transportation (MTO). Upon lobbying with the MTO and their MPP ahead of the Association of Municipalities Ontario (AMO) conference in London last week, the township was granted a delegation with the Honourable Caroline Mulroney, KC, MPP.
Deputy Mayor Nathan Townend noted the importance of this step in the process.
"It really gives us the opportunity to be able to outline what we see as the challenges with respect to getting the new vessel in service, and operating the ferry service writ large. And we were able to do that; we were able to outline our concerns," said Townend.
According to the MTO, getting the vessel in service is part of their plan to deliver safe and reliable transportation services for the people of Ontario.
Townend noted the relationship the township will need to uphold with the MTO.
"We are in a partnership with the MTO, so even when the boat is in service, we will still be needing to work together with MTO to develop a new operations agreement with the new vessel and the new docks," said Townend.
With delays, construction, and extra summer traffic, many island residents are feeling the effects.
Amherst Island Community Alliance board member Kirk Corkery noted a consistent feeling amongst island residents.
"It's been a difficult summer in a lot of people's minds. A lot of people have missed ferries that they normally wouldn't have missed." explained Corkery.
Townend has noted that the township is looking to uphold transparency, and will be taking residents concerns seriously. He explained that he's essentially staking his own reputation on the fact they've mapped out a good way forward.
"I legitimately feel we do have a constructive way forward and the residents can look forward to the new vessel being in service in the near future," said Townend.
Townend released a statement about the delegation on Aug. 25 and encouraged residents to stay tuned. Any further communications will be posted to the township website.
Listen to the story below: