Nova Scotia’s Minister of Transportation says paying the salaries of US border guards in Bar Harbor is part of their arrangement with the operator.
Bay Ferries is working to move ferry operations from Portland to Bar Harbor this season.
To do so, border services in Bar Harbor need to be brought up to U.S. Customs standards.
Hines says estimates for that work total around $3 million dollars U.S. and will involve Nova Scotia ponying up to pay US salaries.
“The arrangement we have involves us supplying the wherewithal to be able to provide the service. So we will be given an understanding of what the cost is and then we’ll make a decision from there.”
Lloyd Hines says the province is paying for a service to allow the ferry to dock in the port at Bar Harbor.
He compares the fee to those being charged for U.S. Customs pre-clearance facilities.
“In any of the new facilities that are being established, that’s common practice, that’s the way it’s done. So there’s nothing unusual about that process from our perspective.”
Hines was clear to point out, there are no plans for a pre-clearance facility in Yarmouth, he was just using it as an example.
Reported by Ed Halverson
Twitter: @edwardhalverson
E-mail: halverson.ed@radioabl.ca
