I have been traveling on the Maine to Nova Scotia route since I was born in 1967. first on the Prince of Fundy then the Bolero and Caribe and finnaly the Scotia prince. Our family also used the Bluenose, Evangeline and Princess of Acadia. We sailed only a few times on the overpriced CAT. I agree with most of the other testimonials that a slow overnight ferry is the best option. Not only would it allow for truck traffic but also more opportunity for the boat to make money on gambling, shopping, dining and liquor. It was always part of the vacation being on the boat, the CAT was like being on a big airliner. I have been slogging up the airline road to Saint John since the Scotia Price pulled out. I dont mind payin 5-6-700$ as long as I get what I pay for, not a cramped little seat and stale pizza / hot dogs. BRING BACK THE SLOW BOAT AND I WILL RIDE IT TWICE A YEAR!!!

I am a tourist that comes to Nova Scotia from Massachusetts at least 3 times a year. Since the boat has gone away we have not been able to come here as often. It is so hard to get here. I can't count the people that I have discussed this with at home and how much they would come up to Yarmouth and visit us but they just can't make that long trip to the ferry in NB. Since the ferry has gone away we, as tourists, have watched Yarmouth dry up. Downtown Yarmouth looks like a ghost town now and it is very sad because it is such a beautiful town. We love coming here. Please find a way to get a ferry. I am sure Yarmouth could still come back to a prime tourist spot if the ferry comes back soon. It is obvious that the ferry has to come back. What is with all the discussion???? Come on you all know it. How about some action???

I have lived and worked in Yarmouth all my life, most of the time has been involved in sales. over the past 6-7 years it has been working as a Marine Broker selling new and used vessels. Sales to USA clients from Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey was a good portion of our overall business. Now that the ferry has been taken away I have seen a great reduction in sales to the USA, yes some of the problem is the exchange rate but with every USA inquiry over the past couple of years the main concern is arranging for the potential clients to get here to view the vessels. When the ferry was running all clients could drive or fly into Portland, ME and make the neccesary arrangements to get to South West Nova Scotia without hassle and or extremely long driving times.

My family and I immigrated to Nova Scotia from Washington, D.C. in 1972 to pursue a business opportunity I saw in Nova Scotia. The business was tourism and recreation, afforded by the wonderful mild climate, inexpensive waterfront property, unspoiled environment and bountiful recreational opportunities. The transportation infrastructure to SWNS from the populated New England area was superb, two ferries a day ( one year around ) and daily air service from Boston to Yarmouth/Halifax. In 1973 the N.S. Government led by Minister DeLory from Liverpool tried to make it illegal for Americans to purchase property in Nova Scotia. Five (5) years later, a study completed by Dalhousie U. on the effects of non-resident l;and ownership in N.S. concluded that the best tourist was someone who purchased property here and came back annually to visit. Nova Scotia experienced an inflow of Americans, Germans, Austrian's and other nationalities, purchasing inexpensive property, vacationing, retiring, immigrating and advertising our lifestyle , environment and good weather to their fellow countrymen. "Summer Settler's", so called, are a valuable component of our tourist economy and a renewable resource. They spend short periods of time here, pay the same property taxes as residents, do not send their children to school, use our medical facitities without paying or highways to any great extent. These "non-resident" property owners return annually or send friends and family members to use their homes and cottages. Nothing has changed in 40 years to effect the viability of this enterprise except the loss of our transportation infrastructure and the gradual pollution of our lakes and rivers by poorly regulated fur farming. Yarmouth remains an important "Gateway" to Nova Scotia for American tourists, by far the biggest market on our Southern border. Americans come to visit our fishing villages, seaports, and view our coastline. They do not come to see Halifax per se, but do pass through on there way to Cape Breton and around. Tourism is a renewable groth industry providing valuable seasonal and year around industry. It compliments the seasonality of our lobster fishery and preserves the vitality of our rural communities.

I am a 78-year old man with residences in Boston MA and Grand Pre Nova Scotia and therefore travel regularly between the 2 locations. I also have friends and relatives who to varying degrees have used and would use an efficient ferry connection between NS and US. I must at the outset express my strong bias - I believe that the most valuable ferry connection for Nova Scotia would be a year-round overnight passenger/car/bus/truck cruise ferry between Boston and Halifax. This need not preclude the seasonal ferry service to/from Yarmouth that is desired by many in SW Nova Scotia, even though Halifax is closer to over 90% of the province than Yarmouth You might know that I, with Johan Koppernaes, Martin Karlsen and others, have studied the Halifax-Boston link for ten years. At times, news of this has been noted on TV and in print. Our proposal has been affected by the economic downturns of the last few years. None-the-less, we hold such a service, properly done, to hold the maximum value for Nova Scotia and New England as a whole. Although it is old, the 1990 comprehensive study funded by the Province of Nova Scotia and conducted by the Peat-Warwick company thoroughly looked at many options and concluded that the Halifax-Boston link was the best and perhaps only viable option. The study was shelved by the Province for unclear reasons. I used the "Scotia Prince" a number of times when it was in service, mostly in the northbound (overnight to Yarmouth) direction, as the US-bound daytime link required overnight lodging in Yarmouth as well as "losing" a day plus the extra driving. Also, a year-round link (like NS-Nfld) is for me and others desirable. If you would like, as a willing member of your forum, I can discuss issues and share information with you. Sincerely, Alf Howard

We have been in the real estate industry in N.S. for 25 years. A great deal of our business was selling to Americans many who arrived on the ferry from Maine to Yarmouth, NS. These buyers purchased raw land and/or houses & hired carpenters, electricians, plumbers, landscapers, well drillers then purchased furniture, automobiles, the list is endless. The impact of this Provincial Government shutting down the Yarmouth ferry has had a devistating impact on my companies business. Many of my former American clients are selling because of the cancallation of the ferry because it is too difficult to get here. What country, state or province would shut down a direct link to the Unied States, Canada's largest trading partner ? By shutting down a ferry service as the one between Maine and Nova Scotia, it was the same as shutting down a direct highway, airline link or train link to our Province. Walt MacDonald Walt MacDonald Real Estate Ltd. Sales Associate/ Owner

I spent my childhood in Port Maitland and, after moving to Massachusetts in 1956 and California in 1977, I have returned almost every year either on the Bluenose, the Scotia Prince, or the CAT because the family still maintains the home there. The past three years have been extremely difficult trying to make other travel arrangements without the ferry. I love Nova Scotia and so does my family - especially my 92 year old mother that looks forward to spending as much time in the summers as she can at the home where she was born. The family in New England includes sisters and brothers and many nieces and nephews that have been unable to make the trip these past few years, and that's such a shame for them not to be able to enjoy the wonderful experiences, and vists to friends and relatives that are there. It takes me two full days from California with flights to Halifax, hotels, shuttle van that takes four hours to Port Maitland. It was so convenient when I could make the trip on the ferry from Portland to Yarmouth. The family in New England have to make the eight hour drive to St. John, New Brunswick and take the ferry to Digby. That ferry is very old and has been in and out of dry-dock frequently and is becoming very undependable. PLEASE BRING FERRY SERVICE BACK FROM NEW ENGLAND TO YARMOUTH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I want to see the South Shore thrive again - it is such a wonderful place and so are the people.

I was born and raised in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, and to walk down Main St. now breaks my heart. All you see is "For Rent" signs in every window, where once there were thriving businesses. Yarmouth has become a ghost town. In the summer when the ferries docked, it was bumper to bumper with traffic off loading. The restaurants were busy, Hotels, and Motels booked full, Tour Buses lined the streets, never mind the pedestrians that walked off the boat up Ferry Hill to shop for a couple hours til the boat left on it's return trip to the States. You never see a Tour Bus now, most of the Motels are closed, many businesses have closed their doors and alot of families have had to move out West to find other jobs. At Christmas time Main St. was a wonderful place to shop and stroll and see the different displays in the windows. Now it is all gone and we may never see this again, unless we get a Ferry back to bring visitors and the funds that they will spend in our town, and towns and villages around our Province. It is not just our town, Annapolis Royal and alot of other small towns and communities throughout the province have lost alot of business as well. Many of the beautiful shops that we loved to visit in Annapolis have closed their doors as well. It has affected all of Nova Scotia from one end to the other. Why can't the government see this? WE NEED A FERRY BACK!!! One that will run year round and carry our trucks to transport our goods to other destinations. We do exist in South West Nova Scotia, and a Ferry does matter!!!

I am extremely concerned about what I consider the death of a beautiful town. At the turn of the 20th century Yarmouth was a rich and industrial ship building community. While staying at the Grand Hotel, Meredith Willson was inspired to write the Christmas classic, "It's beginning to look alot like Christmas." Yarmouth was a properous town that has suffered extreme financial set backs. First they cancelled the train service, then the plane service now finally the ferry service. If something isn't done to reinstate the ferry service we might as well close the coffin and call it a day. Recently Halifax has secured a 25 billion dollar contract. You can't tell me that with the right advertising and promotion that we can't attract more tourism and business opportunities to Yarmouth and across to Maine. I have written Premier Dexter countless times but this has proven fruitless. In closing I just want to say that Yarmouth is a beauitful town that has lost it's spirit due to severe economic downturns. I believe that the people of Yarmouth are wanting to see their town prosper and are willing to put in the effort to make Yarmouth once again a proud and prosperous town,

I live in Connecticut and built a summer home in the Municipality of Clare in 1977. I regularly used the ferry from Portland to Yarmouth. I remember when you had to make a reservation 2 months in advance if you wanted a chance of having a cabin to sleep in the demand was so high. It has turned into an endurance event driving to St. John. It takes two full days of traveling each way - this year I spent the first two days at the house basically sleeping I was so tired. Friends who used to come with me cannot get the 2 weeks off at one time that it takes to make it a vacation, one week off leaves only about 4 days for "vacation." I have also seen what the loss of the ferry has done to the Yarmouth area. Ferry service from New England needs to be a priority.

As is very sad to see the Yarmouth area has been crushed by the lack of a ferry just last mo when we where up for a visit from Mass to our home for 10 days went to main st to our paint store closed gone, drove down the hill to "The Gallery to have a print framed Out gone, next drove to favorite eatery the Austrian closed as of June 17th. The list gets longer every year you have one more study, with the area infrastructure evaporating in rooms, dinning and shopping any further delays of a public announcement and commitment will just cause more to close and move away. in the 15 years we have had our home in the area we meet many form the us he like ourselves came for a visit and fell in love with Nova Scotia and the people, sad to say now some of the us property owners have there homes for sale as it is just to hard to spend four days traveling for a weeks stay. For the 15 years we have crossed on both boats when chatting with first time visitors 70% where headed to Halifax and Cape Breton so the lack of a Yarmouth boat hurts all of NS. We would love to have the boat come out of Portland Me it is the best for our travel plans but its basic math with in 25 miles of Portland just under 250,000.fixed population, Boston Ma with in 25 miles 4.2 million, and Boston is a international tourist destination and market center. Best of all Nova Scotia sea food and products drive of the boat into the second largest market on the East coast its all in the numbers plan and simple math. Jay Beard

I co-own a unique shop with my sister in Yarmouth. Although we do business locally and around the province a great deal of our business was with tourists. Since the loss of the ferry, that has steadily gotten worse with each passing year. I travel up both the south shore and the valley towards Halifax and i notice that not just Yarmouth is affected. Restaurants are closed that would normally be doing a booming business, some motels are either for sale or have had to be converted to apartments. I'm sure it affects the price of fish and lobsters going to the Boston markets. And just about everybody here has relatives stateside or from Quebec and Ontario that have used our ferries as a short cut because they don't want to drive all the way around. It's also made the cost of our houses go down . We may not need a Cat ferry but we need one that goes to just one place stateside with a schedule that benefits both the downtown and the motels.

The cessation of the ferry between Nova Scotia and Maine has impacted me in both my personal life and my business life. Personally, it is no longer a simple matter to pop over for a few days to visit my daughter and grandson who live in New England. It is much more expensive to travel there when you have to drive to Halifax; pay to park your car; fly from Halifax; and finally rent a car in Boston or NY. The other alternative is a 2 day drive to New England each way. In my business, I often went to Portland on the ferry to buy stock for my store. Of course this really isn't a factor anymore since the ferry stopped running I hardly need stock for my store. My business has gone down 50% since the ferry stopped running. When you look on the streets of Annapolis Royal in the peak tourist season, there are very few tourists compared to when the ferry was running. JoAnn

My mother was born and raised in Nova Scotia. She is the baby of 14. While my father was born in the US his mother and father were born in Nova Scotia. Most of my moms brothers and sisters still live in Nova scotia. My parent are both in their mid 70's. Removing ferry service with the exploding cost of air travel has made it almost impossible for my mother to visit her family on any sort of regular basis. Please bring back the ferry service....it's not just about tourism!

My family have been traveling from Massachusetts to Nova Scotia since the mid 1950's. Some family lives in Nova Scotia and others in Mass. When the ferry was terminated this made a huge impact on family members. The trip to St John is too long of a distance for expecially older family members to make the trip as it adds an extra 2 days of traveling plus hotel costs. The airplane is way too expensive. This year funerals were missed as well a family vacations. Vacations homes have been sold and family businesses have been impacted. Things were bad enough when the service changed from a year round service to a seasonal service, now with no service, It has divided our family in two! Please bring back our ferry, perferably year round.

My uncles, aunts and cousins live in Halifax and Mahone Bay. We can no longer easily travel from Boston to NS for family visits in the summer. We lose two days each way driving through New Brunswick. It's awful. Another writer noted that Air Canada's prices are prohibitive. They are. Please bring back the ferries. We used them and we loved them. This is a coastal region. Boat transport simply makes sense!

Since the loss of the ferry, the south shore has seen a drop in the amount of people visiting from abroad. Myself I work at a hotel and have noticed a drop in the amount of people coming from the U.S. This has affected me in the terms of loss of shifts. The price of everything as we know is going up, and the Provence seems to be setting up it's people up to fail. Everything from gas to power, witch NS power has a monopoly on is going up. We really need people coming into this Provence to help strengthen economical growth, but the government instead cut costs by severing transportation in to this country. I call on the government of Nova Scotia to helps it's people.

My husband and I are Americans who have owned a summer home in Nova Scotia since 1997. It was very short-sighted of the province to withdraw financial support for the ferry service, resulting in its cancellation. We have watched a significant decline in local businesses and tourism over the past few years. Our friends and family regularly used the ferries, and enjoyed doing so. Now only a small minority are willing to make that long drive. In our small circle alone, that represents thousands of dollars spent elsewhere during the summer, not in Nova Scotia. When will this issue be taken seriously enough for this important service to be re-established? For years, there was talk of a ferry from Massachusetts to Shelburne. That would certainly be as good as trying to revive Maine to Yarmouth. It doesn't take a genius to see the benefits of a good and reasonably-priced ferry service between the US and Nova Scotia!

Since 1970, I have been traveling with my family to Nova Scotia from New England. For a good part of that time, we went annually, taking either the Prince of Fundy / Scotia Prince or Bluenose ferries from Maine to Yarmouth. When the CAT started running, we sometimes took that but overall, we have fonder memories aboard the other ferries. Without any ferry service, we sometimes travel to Maine and Nova Scotia but our trips are much less frequent these days. Please bring the ferry service back! If ferry service resumed from New England to Nova Scotia, we would take at least one round trip a year.

I was born in Nova Scotia and moved to Massachusetts at the age of 5 - traveled via Bar Harbor to Yarmouth for 15 straight years then Portland to Yarmouth for the next 20 years now my 4 trips a year have depreciated to 2 or 3 due to the long drive to ST John NB or the grueling 869 mile 2 day drive all the way around - if ferry service from Portland or Bar Harbor were to be reborn I would definitely return to my 4 trips per year --- My family and friends would look forward to the overnight service as we did in the past ( not the CAT ) a service similar to the Scotia Prince would satisfy our needs please proceed with the negotiations and make MAINE and YARMOUTH connected once again