OTTAWA — The Nova Scotia government will put out an official call for a new Yarmouth to Maine ferry next week.
Premier Darrell Dexter said Wednesday (December 5th) the province is poised to release a request for proposals for a replacement to the CAT ferry, and a new ship could be in place as early as next summer.
But Dexter said the Yarmouth terminal has fallen into disrepair in recent years and an entirely new terminal will need to be built.
That job would fall to the federal government, which owns the terminal.
Dexter said a ferry service could still start in 2013 if a temporary terminal was set up during construction.
He was in Ottawa briefing Transport Minister Denis Lebel and Defence Minister Peter MacKay on the situation.
Some companies have told the province they feel a 2013 start could be possible.
The request for proposals is expected to close in February.
The province is putting up $21 million over seven years up to get a ferry up and running.
Dexter said the money will only go to a business that plans to become self-sustainable within those seven years.
“We want to be really clear that we’re not looking to be in the ferry business,” said Dexter.