Friday round up.

First up.

WOW. My hat goes off to these people, every one from the fishers who raised the alarm to the Captain of the ship and the crew of the boats, especially the divers. Man what an experience that must have been, not to mention dangerous.
Closest I came was in a 15 ft tinny off the Labrador, exhilarating and scary at the same time being in the middle of a pod of Humpbacks.

Second up.

Well the Minister for WST made it up the coast. Mr. Hickey met with Nunatsiavut first minister and others yesterday afternoon and then with Community Government and others last evening, which I attended.
The attendance was larger than is the norm for these things. One thinly disguised narrow agenda, one openly narrow agenda, but hey, all fair in a democracy, right?

I’m still digesting and mulling over what was said during the 21/4 hour meet. It was not a love fest, nor an attempted buy off {that comes on the next visit}, but I think it was more positive than negative. It was political for sure, lot of past regime bashing from the minister, not surprising considering the Liberal bent up this way.

I am tending to lean in the direction that things will change for the better on the marine shipping front; the next several months will be the proof in the pudding. People are listening and admitting that changes are needed, that is a far cry from some of the past {regime} meetings of this type.

Air traffic got a good going over too, the province has less influence in this area, it can use it’s influence in the provincially funded food subsidy program vis a vis freight problems. Also committed to was a review of the subsidy program that will get underway soon, this is welcome by all, especially the consumer.
Another commitment was for a consultant to do a feasibility study for a new air strip for Nain. Considering that most of the money for this {construction} would have to come from the feds {unless change is in the wind} then there is a good deal of politics here too. At least it is on the table and openly being talked about.

Meeting finished off quite well from my perspective. Minister got a good {deserved} kick in at past so called lobby efforts for a new air strip by the thinly disguised narrow agenda people. Bottom line folks, ya gota get things down in writing and get it to the right people.

Lastly the minister threw me a bouquet; knock me over with a feather!
Seems one of my lobby efforts may bear fruit. Minister has ordered his people to review and overhaul the Marine Shipping section of the WST web site, make it more “user friendly”.

Then again maybe the last two paragraphs are conjoined, who cares as long as things improve for the rest of us.

So on the general front: First priority is to get fuel boat up the coast, if ice breaker needed then will be asked for. Then in about another, week with no ice movement, will think about assistance in getting freight boat up. No chance of getting assistance for the Ranger, liability issues.

Important omission:

The minister indicated that phase two review of the freight rate structure is underway. This would be the long haul rates to the Labrador Coast. While everybody present was ecstatic that the container rate from Goose Bay to Rigolet went down over 400 bucks, way more people are affected by the long haul rates, so too would be Rigolet with a container from Lewisport.

Under review also are the passenger fares and cabin rates on the Northern Ranger to the North Coast. These are very very inequitable compared to rates from GB south and when compared with the Marines Atlantic ferry rates to the mainland.

And, to throw a spanner in the works of all above.

Anecdotal evidence this morning from a store operator of freight destined for Nain, off loaded in Rigolet 3 weeks ago, no sign of it yet, something in the 40 package range. Also of freight for same store off loaded in Natuashish, no sign of it either.
Today, same store, told to get ice cream out to GB air terminal yesterday, today gets phone call to get some one to go get it as no can get it to Nain any time soon.

As all can see, it will take more than words.