So the end of the Lewisport to Goose Bay ferry was announced yesterday. I think it is premature what with the Trans Labrador Highway being quite a ways from being hard topped.

Of course with all the dollar amounts announced and re announced non, nada, zero, zilch, auka are earmarked towards replacing the totally decrepit mv Astron. At least she will not have to stop off at Cartwright and Black Tickle so that should speed things up a bit.

Then there is the mv Northern Ranger, what is her future? The ruling school of thought is that one new vessel will replace the two above boats. Still we see no news of what type of vessel is being considered.

I sure hope the notion of combining Nunavut into the Labrador coast run is kyboshed, it will only hold up moving forward with improving our transportation service.

It will make sense and be more economical when the road is completely hard topped and the road on the Quebec side becomes safer so that people can avail of the cheaper and larger variety of goods and services available in what is referred to as Mainland Canada, in other words; Quebec, Ontario, NS and NB.

Of course networks will have to be created and a certain negative attitude prevalent in Goose Bay towards the coast will have to change, but if all players work together for a change then these things can be overcome.

Newfoundland has held Labrador hostage for way too long, times are a changing but way too slowly.

Almost immediate update: I missed the mention of the Bond acting in an as needed capacity on the north coast run out of Lewisport. The MV Sir Robert Bond will be retained to provide winter ferry service across the Strait of Belle Isle and to supplement the North Coast freight service as needed. This winter, service via the MV Sir Robert Bond will be provided between Corner Brook and Blanc Sablon while the MV Apollo is on refit.

CBC Labrador morning had interviews with the minister of transport and a reaction from the president of Nunatsiavut that helped on elaborating this strange development.

I say strange fore several reasons; in the interviews it is clear that it will be at least another 5 years before any move is made to upgrade the service with a new vessel to the north.

The Bond used as a supplement will be an expensive proposition. With it being so large and the north coast only have two ports that can safely accommodate the larger vessel, those being Natuashish and Nain; the Bond will be doing more sitting at dock than steaming so to speak.

We can add to the puzzle by other statement in the interviews; seems the Bond will make a stop in Goose Bay on the way north if needed. The best I can gather from this is it will be to pick up freight for the north coast; it will not have freight to drop off in Goose Bay.

We also leaned from the interview with the president that Nunatsiavut Government has been and will be meeting with the province in assuring that the service is upgraded. No information of past meetings is available on the NG web site, nor will there be IMPO.