June 5, 2026

The Right Honourable Mark Carney Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street Ottawa, ON, K1A 0A2
Via Email: pm@pm.gc.ca

Dear Prime Minister,

I am writing on behalf of a coalition of business and industry organizations, including Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador, Akita Equipment and Auto Transportation, The Board of Trade, Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador, East Can Transport Services Limited, the Retail Council of Canada, and the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce. As a group of like-minded industry leaders committed to the growth and prosperity of Newfoundland and Labrador's economy, we are united in recognizing the critical role Marine Atlantic plays as a constitutionally mandated service and vital extension of Canada's national transportation system, serving as the marine link of the Trans-Canada Highway and an essential connection between Newfoundland and Labrador and the rest of Canada.

Today, our coalition also submitted correspondence to the Minister of Transport outlining these concerns and our collective position. We are writing to you directly to underscore the significance of this issue to Newfoundland and Labrador's economy, communities, and residents, and to emphasize the need for federal leadership in protecting and strengthening this vital transportation link.

Considering the recent application before the Canadian Industrial Relations Board to reconsider Marine Atlantic's essential service designation, our coalition supports the province’s position that Marine Atlantic should continue to be recognized as an essential service, reflecting its constitutional mandate and critical role in maintaining the movement of people, commercial freight, food, medical supplies, and other essential goods between Newfoundland and Labrador and mainland Canada. Furthermore, we respectfully call on the Government of Canada to ensure that Marine Atlantic's level and standard of service meet current demand and future growth opportunities through increased capacity.

The reliability, affordability, and capacity of Marine Atlantic has direct implications for supply chain stability, food security, labour mobility, tourism growth, municipal sustainability, and overall economic competitiveness. For Newfoundland and Labrador, access is not simply a transportation issue, it is economic infrastructure. The ability of businesses to operate, communities to thrive, and industries to grow depends on a dependable and efficient marine transportation system.

As organizations representing employers, operators, municipalities, transportation providers, retailers, and industry leaders throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, we believe it is important that decisions affecting Marine Atlantic reflect its unique role as a constitutionally mandated service, a critical component of Canada's transportation network, and an indispensable contributor to the province's economic and social well-being.

It is in that spirit that we wish to share our collective perspective on the importance of maintaining a reliable, resilient, and accessible Marine Atlantic service for the benefit of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.


Sincerely,

Craig Foley, CEO, Hospitality NL
AnnMarie Boudreau, CEO, The Board of Trade
Rob Nolan, CEO, Municipalities NL
Chris Howlett, CEO& President, Akita Equipment and Auto Transportation
Gerry Dowden, President East Can Transport Services Limited
Jim Cormier, Atlantic Canada Director, Retail Council of Canada
Rhonda Tulk-Lane, President & CEO, Atlantic Chamber of Commerce


cc: The Honourable Tony Wakeham, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador