Public Works Minister Fred Tilley insists the long-awaited high-speed electric ferry connecting Mill Cove and downtown Halifax remains firmly on track, even as Bedford residents question why construction hasn’t started.

Tilley says the province has already made “significant investments” and is moving ahead with land negotiations needed to start work. “We’re currently in negotiations with our partners and with private landowners to acquire the land necessary for the project,” he told reporters on Thursday. “We’ve committed $65 million to this project, and the feds and HRM have committed their shares as well — so absolutely it’s all systems go.”

The Minister’s assurances come amid growing community concern that the project has stalled. Announced last year, the electric ferry system is expected to cost more than $250 million over the next four years. Recent municipal discussions about scaling back or cancelling the Mill Cove terminal altogether have added to uncertainty about the timeline.

Public engagement sessions on the Mill Cove land-use plan have drawn large crowds and strong opinions, with residents focusing on trails, public access, and environmental impacts.

Once complete, officials say the system’s 5 all-electric ferries will help ease highway congestion, anchor a new mixed-use waterfront community, and transform Mill Cove into a “world-class destination.”