The MPP for Chatham-Kent-Leamington is pointing the finger at the federal government for delays in launching a new ferry service to Pelee Island.
According to MPP Rick Nicholls, regulatory and safety approvals with Transport Canada have taken longer than anticipated.
The new $40-million Pelee Islander II ferry service was suppose to set sail in September, but it remains docked in Leamington.
"I have been in constant contact with our new Minister of Transportation MPP Jeff Yurek who had planned to introduce the new vessel a few weeks ago actually and unfortunately at the last moment, everything was cancelled," says Nicholls.
Nicholls believes Transport Canada failed to consider the vessel's modern design and technological advancements, which has resulted in an unnecessary delay in the approval process.
It will not be operational until the spring of 2019.
Nicholls is disappointed because he knows the ferry service is vital to the residents who live on Pelee Island as well as tourism.
He says Transport Canada waived an opportunity to speed up the certification process earlier this fall by turning down an invitation to attend an evacuation demonstration to get a better understanding of the vessel's design and technologies.
AM800 News has reached out to Transport Canada for comment.