Cat’s loss may swipe other services

The loss will likely affect services and staffing at three Nova Scotia visitor information centres as well as Yarmouth’s customs office, which is located at the ferry terminal.

Jennifer Morrison, a spokesperson for the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

Atlantic Region, says senior management is aware of the issue and is meeting to discuss various operational strategies and options. “Yarmouth is a recognized port of entry and it will be staffed according to operational need,” she said. “These are preliminary discussions and no decisions have been made given the recent timing of the announcement,” she added.

There are currently 19 staff working for the Port of Yarmouth with CBSA. The Yarmouth operation consists of a superintendent, two full-time border services officers and 16 seasonal inspectors.

The Bay Ferries Ltd. traffic represents a large portion of the workload presently serviced by CBSA in Yarmouth. The Yarmouth office also services two bonded warehouses, Yarmouth airport and Digby Airport and occasional marine vessels and private pleasure craft.

Directly opposite the ferry terminal, services will be re-evaluated at the tourist information centre on Forest Street as well. “Obviously, with the closure of the Yarmouth-Maine ferry service the need for visitor information services in Yarmouth will need to be evaluated. However, I cannot provide you with any firmer indication of the future of the Yarmouth VIC at this time,” said Michael Noonan, director of communications with Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage. “Visitor information services in Portland and Bar Harbor, Maine would also have to be evaluated,” said Noonan.

Nineteen Canadians are employed between the three offices: Yarmouth has 10 and the other nine are split between Portland and Bar Harbor.

The three offices represent close to 30 per cent of the province’s tourism offices. The other seven are located in Amherst, Pictou, Halifax Stanfield International Airport, Halifax waterfront, Digby, Peggy's Cove, and Port Hastings. Centres at the airport, in Amherst and on the Halifax waterfront are open year round.

Visitors decreased by 13 per cent at the Yarmouth centre from May-October in 2009, with 11,300 visitors passing through.

In 2008, there were 13,300 visitors to the Yarmouth VIC, an eight percent decrease from 2007.

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