A former Liberal MHA is says now is the time for the provincial government to give serious consideration to a fixed link connecting Bell Island with Portugal Cove-St. Philips.

The province has launched what it’s calling a “marine market sounding” process to review how best to deliver ferry services on the island portion of the province.

Danny Dumaresque says the Bell Island ferry service costs taxpayers about $25 million dollars a year, and regardless of how much money is spent, the service will continue to experience weather and mechanical delays among other challenges. That’s why a fixed link is the best solution to addressing the transportation needs of Bell Islanders according to Dumaresque.

He says an ideal model already exists with the Confederation Bridge in Prince Edward Island. He believes a similar fixed link on the Bell Island Tickle would be ideal.