Federal government orders audit of ferry service between Nova Scotia and P.E.I.

HALIFAX — Federal Transport Minister Anita Anand has ordered an audit of the ferry service between Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island after a season plagued by delays and interruptions.

The audit will help ensure that Northumberland Ferries, the company that operates the seasonal service, has protocols in place to guarantee safe transit and to prevent future problems, Anand said in an emailed statement on Monday.

The “unfortunate prolonged interruptions” in service between Wood Islands, P.E.I., and Caribou, N.S., last year were “unacceptable,” she said.

“This audit is about putting Islanders first -- making sure the ferries are operating safely, reliably, and delivering the service people in Atlantic Canada deserve.”

The ferry service across the Northumberland Strait has been inconsistent since a fire broke out in 2022 on board the route’s long-standing ship, the MV Holiday Island, and damaged it beyond repair.

The MV Saaremaa was called in to take over for the Holiday Island, but that vessel also had problems and had to be pulled from the water during the 2024 season.

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Meanwhile, the MV Confederation, which also transports people along the same route, was taken out of service on Sept. 15 after it ran into a wharf.

The trouble meant ferry service between the two provinces was sometimes halted entirely, forcing travellers to reroute and use the Confederation Bridge.

There were also issues with the MV Confederation in 2023, resulting in service shutdowns.

The federal government has since purchased the MV Northumberland to replace the MV Holiday Island. The ferry arrived in Pictou, N.S., on Sunday. Officials say it needs some final work, but it is expected to be in service by the beginning of this year’s season.

Meanwhile, the government posted a tender for the auditing contract last week. It closes on Feb. 6.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 27, 2025.