Provincial budget cuts are raising concerns in Lunenburg after funding for the Bluenose II was reduced as part of Nova Scotia’s latest spending plan.
The schooner — often described as Nova Scotia’s sailing ambassador — is facing a cut of about 20 percent to its provincial operating grant. The funding supports vessel operations and crew salaries and had been set at roughly $1.189 million, meaning the reduction amounts to nearly $240,000.
Lunenburg Mayor Jamie Myra says cutting tourism funding during a time when the sector remains a key driver of the provincial economy is difficult to understand.
“Any cuts to tourism right now during these times I don’t think are wise cuts,” Myra said in an interview. “Tourism is a big business in this province and in this country.”
Myra said the Bluenose II plays a significant role in attracting visitors to Nova Scotia and particularly to Lunenburg.
“The Bluenose II has been the ambassador of not only Nova Scotia and Lunenburg, but of all of Canada over the last number of years,” he said. “Any cuts to that boat could be devastating to not only Lunenburg, but to the surrounding area.”
More than 60,000 visitors crossed the deck of the vessel during the summer season last year, according to figures referenced by the mayor.
“The majority of them talk to the crew when they’re on, and they’ve told the crew they planned their entire vacation to Nova Scotia around the dates they could get a cruise on the Bluenose II,” Myra said.
The Bluenose II regularly travels throughout the Maritimes and also welcomes visitors aboard while docked in Lunenburg, offering deck tours and sailing experiences during the tourism season.
Myra said other tourism-related organizations are also facing reductions. The Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, located next to the schooner’s dock on the Lunenburg waterfront, is dealing with a budget cut of about 20 percent.
The mayor said the arts, cultural and tourism sectors are closely tied together and help draw visitors to communities across the province.
“We’ve really become dependent on tourism for about four months of the year, and tourism is our third biggest industry in this province,” he said.
Operators of the Bluenose II have not yet indicated what the funding reduction could mean for the vessel’s programming or operations this season.
