Good afternoon, everyone. Hello.

What a beautiful day here in Prince Edward Island, I have to say. As my last event before heading back home, I’m really glad to be making an announcement about helping people get to and from the island even easier. We’ve got a lot of ministers here with us today and a lot of caucus members. Our entire PEI caucus is here, Sean Casey, Bobby Morrissey, Heath MacDonald, and of course, Minister MacAulay along with Minister Rodriguez, Minister Fraser, and Minister Freeland. It’s a testament to what having a new modern ferry boat will mean for PEI and Nova Scotia.

Thank you everyone for being here and for helping make this moment possible.

The Wood Islands Caribou Ferry Service connects these two provinces, connects families, connects tourists, connects workers, and connects businesses. Today’s announcement owes a huge debt of gratitude to members of our team from PEI, to Sean Fraser, and certainly to Lawrence MacAulay, who has worked incredibly hard to make this possible. Today, we’re announcing that we will be purchasing a new vessel for this ferry line so that we can ensure people and businesses have reliable two-way ferry service.

(Applause)

For the last year, the MV Confederation has been there to help continue to deliver essential services after the fire on the MV Holiday Island, but we know it’s high time a new ferry came online. This new vessel, the MV Fanafjord, will help Northumberland Ferries continue to safely and efficiently serve the economies and communities here on the East Coast.

Reliable, modernized ferry service is an essential lifeline, especially for communities in eastern Prince Edward Island and Pictou, Nova Scotia, and that is what we are helping achieve today.