Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Oct 24/05) - The operator of the Liard River ferry unexpectedly called it quits Thursday, leaving the government and residents scrambling.

Amidst ongoing labour strife, Rowe's Construction informed the government that it could no longer provide ferry service using its replacement workers.

The vessel shuttles supplies to 1,250 people in Fort Simpson and another 150 in Wrigley.

The government hopes to have the ferry running again by early this week, or will try to find an alternative, Transportation Minister Michael McLeod said Friday.

"We could fly (goods) in, we can hire a different boat, we could run the boat ourselves, we could get the contractor back," said McLeod. "There are many things that can be done."

Residents like Sheila Wright were counting on the government to find some means of getting propane into Fort Simpson.

She said her tank was 90 per cent empty.

"That will last us probably another week," said Wright. "I have no idea what we're going to do."

Fort Simpson Mayor Raymond Michaud said he also had serious concerns about fuel supplies.

"It could be a major problem," he said.

Historically, the Liard River ferry operates until the end of October or early November when ice or low water force it to stop.

Rowe's Construction and the Liidlii Kue First Nation, in a joint venture, won the three-year Liard River ferry contract in 2004 for $1.44 million.

But the government now considers Rowe's to be in breach of contract, McLeod said.

The ferry service will either be tendered out next year or government workers will staff it, he noted.

Calls to Rowe's Construction were not returned Thursday or Friday.

The ferry crew members who went on strike on Oct. 12 said they were hoping for back-to-work legislation. McLeod said that would be federal jurisdiction, not territorial.

Meanwhile in Fort Providence, workers on the Mackenzie River ferry were certified under the Public Service Alliance of Canada last week.

Now unionized, they have called on Rowe's Construction to begin collective bargaining. Jean Francois Des Lauriers, PSAC's vice-president for the North, said a strike in Fort Providence is a possibility within this ferry season if negotiations do not go well.