e-2652 (Transportation)
- Keywords
- Campobello Island
- Ferries
Original language of petition: English
Petition to the Government of Canada
- The residents of Campobello do not have year-round access to their own country and this is a cause of great hardship for residents and great deterrent on those seeking to move there;
- An anomaly to the area and province, Campobello’s population has dropped 34% and market income per capita has shrunk more than $6,000 per person in the 20 years since enhanced border restrictions were implemented;
- Since September 2017, the private, for-profit ferry has provided three months of service;
- Our ¨domestic¨ mail is passing through the United States of America and is being opened, searched and seized at the discretion of US Customs;
- Personal correspondence is also being opened which raises privacy concerns;
- We believe that it is our Charter right to have unfettered access to our own country, instead of being forced to abide by the policies, procedures, and jurisdiction of the United States of America, especially in a COVID-19 world.
Response by the Minister of Transport
Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Marc Garneau
The seasonal ferry service between Deer Island, New Brunswick, and Campobello Island, New Brunswick, is provided by a private operator, East Coast Ferries Ltd. This ferry service generally operates from late-June to September, though the 2020 service has been extended to December 1.
The Government of Canada removed itself from the direct operation of ferry services since the 1995 National Marine Policy (the Policy) was introduced. As a result, the federal government placed the management of marine infrastructure and services on a commercial footing. With respect to ferry services, the Policy indicates that the Government of Canada would continue to support Constitutionally-mandated ferry services and services required by remote communities. In light of this, Transport Canada’s role is limited to its regulatory one, to ensure the safety and security of the seasonal ferry operation between the mainland of New Brunswick and Campobello Island.
Under the National Marine Policy, Campobello Island is not classified as a remote community or a constitutional obligation, as access to the island is available year round by land through the state of Maine using the bridge crossing in Lubec, Maine, USA.
Recognizing the provincial nature of this issue, the Government of Canada understands that local organizations such as the Campobello Island Ferry Committee and Accessible Campobello are working with the Government of New Brunswick to examine long-term solutions.
- Open for signature
- June 17, 2020, at 2:13 p.m. (EDT)
- Closed for signature
- July 17, 2020, at 2:13 p.m. (EDT)
- Presented to the House of Commons
-
John Williamson
(New Brunswick Southwest)
October 6, 2020 (Petition No. 432-00081) - Government response tabled
- November 19, 2020
Only validated signatures are counted towards the total number of signatures.
Province / Territory | Signatures |
---|---|
Alberta | 8 |
British Columbia | 9 |
Manitoba | 2 |
New Brunswick | 567 |
Newfoundland and Labrador | 4 |
Northwest Territories | 1 |
Nova Scotia | 21 |
Ontario | 81 |
Prince Edward Island | 1 |
Quebec | 9 |
Saskatchewan | 2 |
Yukon | 1 |