DIEPPE, NB. — Since The Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association (APTA) was first advised that effective Feb. 12 Marine Atlantic Inc. would be raising their rates by 24 percent, the APTA has been searching for an explanation.

The APTA, in a statement released yesterday, said that the Federal government needs to stop the rate increase before it's too late.

“The commercial carriers are Marine Atlantics largest customers and without us they would not be able to sustain having a ferry service to serve the population in Newfoundland. Now they are making us pay for their mistakes and inadequacies and the Federal Government is supporting them. What a fiasco! The trucking industry cannot sustain such increases nor can the customers or Newfoundlanders," said Jean-Marc Picard, executive director of the APTA.

“There will be huge repercussions to these increases and I am not sure how we will be able to manage through them," Picard said. "The Federal Government needs to step in and adjust the rate increase but also put their foot down and put the right people in place to run an efficient ferry service. We have had enough,” said Picard.

Picard questioned how Marine Atlantic's Board of Directors could allow for the increases to be approved. "Are they not aware that Marine Atlantic’s staff also have a responsibility to control their costs and run efficiently? Passing costs to customers is an easy fix. This will hurt our economy, our Atlantic Canadian based trucking companies and Newfoundlanders."