Time will tell

It will take some time before the impact of the Auditor General's report on Marine Atlantic is known.

The information-packed document will take everyone a while to read and digest, much less take action on.

The coming months will show if the report's call for more federal support of the ferry company will be heeded or left to gather dust on a bureaucrat's shelf.

One could certainly understand if Newfoundlanders' and Labradorians' hope for change is somewhat tempered by cynicism. Much of what the report contained falls into the 'we already knew that' category.

People of this province know that investment - big money investment - into fleet renewal is required. Most understand that as a Crown corporation, Marine Atlantic can't move ahead to address many of its issues until the federal government opens the public purse.

The government must also approve the company's plans for the future - plans the company has been working on for several years and have now submitted to Transport Canada.

But still the statements issued by several groups after the report's release offered hope that this report will herald a change in Ottawa, that it will mean more attention and more money for the ferry company and its problems.

Maybe this time someone will listen. Maybe this time decisions will be made and things will improve. Maybe we won't be having this same discussion next year.

The Auditor General, while critical, seems to indicate improvement is possible and the company is trying.

Let's hope the federal government listens and agrees to help.

editor@gulfnews.ca