CAT ferry

The Executive Director of Yarmouth’s chamber of commerce says the province is playing politics with the CAT ferry because the leader of the opposition represents Yarmouth.

Rick Allwright is joining other local business owners and community leaders who have recently criticized the remarks from Premier Tim Houston and Public Works Minister Kim Masland.

Both recently criticized the CAT’s ridership numbers released by Bay Ferries, saying they may choose to axe the service.

He says there’s a history of hurt from when the ferry was absent and the comments are already having an effect on business owners.

“Potentially stalling any renovations to their properties or starting new businesses,” “Any sort of rhetoric like what we’re seeing from the premier and the minister have an almost immediate effect on the attitude and ability of businesses to get things done.”

In a release the chambers says the province’s comments on the CAT are detrimental to economic stability of southwest Nova Scotia.

Allwright described what could take place if the service was cancelled.

“It would be a huge economic hit to the area. There’s a lot of citizens and businesses that rely on that ferry for employment and to keep their business viable. We would definetly see, I believe, a number of businesses close almost immediately like we saw in 2010 when the NDP took it away.”

Allwright says while there’s always room for improvement, the service has done well in its first year back.