The Mayor of Digby wants Transport Canada to leave the ‘Fundy Rose’ alone.

The feds are exploring an idea to move the Digby-Saint John vessel to the Magdalen Islands for part of next year.

The ferry that runs between PEI and Quebec is scheduled to undergo maintenance.

Mayor Ben Cleveland says it’s upsetting that they would even consider this.

“It’s the commercial route for trucks out of Southwest Nova Scotia. As the Atlantic Trucking Association says, they have about 6,000 trailers going on the ferry in the run of a year. Even a few months without service is a lot of trucks,” says Mayor Cleveland.

He says it would also impact tourism for both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

A petition from local businesses is being signed.

“It looks like several of us may be trying to have a conversation with Transport Canada, and trying to send them in a different direction on this.” added the Mayor.

Transport Canada has not made an official decision.