CAT ferry sets sail for first time in three years, re-establishing Nova Scotia’s link to the U.S.
After three years, the high-speed CAT ferry left Yarmouth, N.S., Thursday morning and headed for Bar Harbor, Maine.
Criticized for costing taxpayers millions, the service is regarded as vital to the economy of southwestern Nova Scotia.
Massachusetts residents Sherri and Ray Ellsworth have spent the last eight days touring Nova Scotia for their anniversary.
The re-established link between the province and state will make it easier for them to come back.
“We didn’t get to Newfoundland, really wanted to get to Newfoundland. So yeah, we’re going to come back and hopefully catch the ferry out of Sydney,” said Ray.
They are exactly the type of tourists the province wants to see.
“When visitors come across the ferry, they are high-value tourists,” said N.S. Public Works Minister Kim Masland.
“They stay longer, they usually stay longer than a week, and they spend money and they travel our entire province.”
Nova Scotia’s contract with Bay Ferries, the company that operates the CAT ferry, runs until 2026. This year’s operating budget is a little over $17 million.
“$17.12 million is a lot of money,” said Masland. “That will take a lot of passengers but again, we have to look at the economic benefit of it to the province as well.”
The service is starting three weeks earlier than usual, and there is optimism the season will be a successful one.
“The Bay Ferries terminals not just in Yarmouth, but in Saint John, N.B., and Digby are getting phone calls from people inquiring about service,” said Jim Kerr, general manager of Bay Ferries.
Sandra and Terry Zink are from Barrington Passage. Like the Ellsworths, they too are celebrating an anniversary. They’re heading to a concert near Boston, Mass.
“It’s great value right now with the cost of gasoline,” said Terry. “We can jump on the ferry and save that amount driving.”
Early this season the CAT will be running four days a week, but will begin daily crossings on June 24 until its final sail on Oct. 10.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.