Mayor shares frustration with residents of Wolfe Island over ferry service

Judy Greenwood-Speers believes the best solution is to have two vessels operating at the same time.

Frustration is growing for residents and visitors to Wolfe Island who regularly take the ferry to get to and from the mainland.

One of them is the Mayor of Frontenac Islands Township.

Judy Greenwood-Speers says the electric-powered Wolfe Islander IV is not reliable as it continues to experience mechanical problems and staffing issues that has caused delays and even cancellations.

She says the Wolfe Islander III and its previous models didn't have the same problems.

Greenwood-Speers adds that the previous versions of the Wolfe Islander ferry is less susceptible to the weather conditions especially wind compared to the Islander IV.

Ferry service has also been disrupted whenever there is a medical or fire emergency on the island.

Greenwood-Speers believes there should be two ferries operating at the same time so that there will be fewer disruptions.

She says she has even brought it up with Kingston and the Island MPP Ted Hsu.

Greenwood-Speers says the impact of the ferry service is also causing headaches in downtown Kingston with traffic backing up waiting for the ferry. She says she has spoken with Mayor Bryan Paterson and he is in full agreement with the idea of two ferries operate during the day.

Story by Ken Hashizume