Nova Star ferry

After two failed years of service between Portland, Maine and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia - and $40 million in subsidies from the Nova Scotia government - the Nova Star ferry has a new job moving people across the Strait of Gibraltar.

Nova Star Cruises says it is waiting for more money from the province of Nova Scotia to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid invoices to a bevy of suppliers, from ship's chandlers to TV stations.

With only 50% of projected passengers, the ferry service is only of many victims as fewer people choose to visit Nova Scotia.

Deadline Friday for new operator submissions

From the Canadian Press: HALIFAX -- A survey commissioned by the provincial government says Nova Scotians who were questioned were split on whether the government should provide financial support for the ferry between Yarmouth and Maine.

The state’s top economic development official says Gov. Paul LePage won’t be asking the Maine Legislature to use taxpayer money to help fund the ferry service between Portland and Nova Scotia, countering assumptions widely held in Nova Scotia that LePage plans to submit a bill to do just that.

$41 million tax dollars to date