Marine Atlantic

Marine Atlantic Inc. (fr: Marine Atlantique) is an independent Canadian Crown corporation offering ferry services between the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia.

History

Extensive budget cuts throughout the Government of Canada during the latter part of the 1990s led to a drastic downsizing of Marine Atlantic's operations.

Related Topics:
Government of Canada - 1990s

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In 1997 the Confederation Bridge replaced Marine Atlantic's constitutionally-mandated ferry service to Prince Edward Island.

Related Topics:
1997 - Confederation Bridge - Prince Edward Island

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That same year saw the operation of the Saint John-Digby and Yarmouth-Bar Harbor services transferred to the private sector company Bay Ferries Limited, a subsidiary of Northumberland Ferries Limited.

Related Topics:
Bay Ferries Limited - Northumberland Ferries Limited

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Marine Atlantic also removed itself from the provision of coastal ferry services in Newfoundland and Labrador with the transfer of operations to the provincial government at the end of the 1997 season, in exchange for federal funding to extend regional roads (such as the Trans-Labrador Highway) to service coastal communities. These coastal ferry services had been initiated by the Newfoundland Railway and were assumed by Canadian National Railways, following the province's entry into Confederation in 1949, although they were not constitutionally mandated.

Related Topics:
Newfoundland and Labrador - 1997 - Trans-Labrador Highway - Newfoundland Railway - Canadian National Railways - Confederation - 1949

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In 1998, the company moved its headquarters from Moncton, New Brunswick to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, after briefly considering North Sydney, Nova Scotia and Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Related Topics:
1998 - Moncton, New Brunswick - St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador - North Sydney, Nova Scotia - Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador

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In late 2004 the federal government announced the appointment of a three-member committee tasked with examining future operations of Marine Atlantic. One of the options being considered is reportedly privatization.

Related Topics:
2004 - Privatization

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