MR. SPEAKER: Further petitions.

The hon. the Opposition House Leader.

MR. KELVIN PARSONS: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

This petition is on behalf of the community of Grey River.

WHEREAS the community of Grey River is an isolated community which is serviced by the provincial ferry system; and

WHEREAS the provincial ferry service is the only means of travelling between Grey River and Ramea or Burgeo; and

WHEREAS the Gallipoli from time to time services Grey River for the purpose of vehicular transportation; and

WHEREAS the Gallipoli has been unable to provide this service to Grey River for the past number of weeks as a result of mechanical problems; and

WHEREAS the citizens of Grey River are unable to take their vehicles in and out of Grey River; and

WHEREAS residents of Grey River have medical appointments out of the area and need their vehicles to travel from Burgeo to Corner Brook and St. John’s for these and other appointments;

WHEREUPON the undersigned, your petitioners, humbly pray and call upon the House of Assembly to urge the Department of Transportation and Works to immediately provide alternate arrangements for the people of Grey River to have their vehicles extracted to and from their community;

And as in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray.

Mr. Speaker, the people on the South Coast of this Province who require and need the coastal service have an understanding of what weather conditions do to the service, and certainly have an understanding of what mechanical breakdowns do to the service. This is not a case of being unappreciative for what exists. It is a very good rate, for example, when anybody travels, and the minister’s office has certainly been responsive whenever this member has contacted him to find out what can be done as alternatives; however, they have implored upon me that I bring this petition to the House of Assembly – and that is part of my job as an MHA, of course.

Regardless of what relationship I have in trying to resolve these with the minister and his staff, the residents have implored that I do this, and I feel it is my obligation to do so, and that is why I bring this forward.

For the benefit of those who might be listening, not only will I bring it forward to the minister at this time – which I have done publicly – I will also be speaking with the minister, and he has indicated he will speak with me some time later this afternoon so we can hopefully find some positive resolution to this most unfortunate situation.