Wolfe Islanders still without full ferry service as backup fails to meet safety standards

Ontario's transportation ministry says its first choice for a replacement ferry to and from Wolfe Island that could carry both people and cars will not go into service due to safety concerns.

Residents of the island near Kingston, Ont., have been stuck without full ferry service since Monday when the Wolfe Islander IV suffered an electrical issue.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) looked into mobilizing the Frontenac II to provide service between the island and the mainland, pending "successful ramp‑compatibility testing."

But later in the afternoon, the ministry said on social media that the ferry did not fit at the docks properly.

"We appreciate the public’s patience as crews work to restore regular operations as quickly and safely as possible," the MTO said.

The Frontenac II could not be used because it was too narrow to safely dock and load vehicles on the Kingston side, said Ted Hsu, Liberal MPP for Kingston and the Islanders.

"It's unacceptable. The ferry should be running. There are a lot of things that that can be done and could have been done," Hsu told CBC Radio's All In A Day on Friday.

Another ferry being considered

The Wolfe Islander IV normally provides the only connection between the island and the mainland.

After announcing the Frontenac II was an unsuitable replacement, the MTO said on social media it was now working to bring the Amherst Islander II into service, with priority given to the "boarding of essential supplies, in consultation with the municipality."

On Tuesday afternoon, the MTO deployed the MV Quinte Loyalist to ferry people between Kingston and Wolfe Island, but it can't carry vehicles.

That boat continues operate on a 90-minute round trips between Crawford Wharf and Marysville, transporting passengers only, the ministry said.

CBC has reached out to the MTO for further comment.

'We don't matter'

Even if another boat comes into service, it's too late for some residents who needed to make the trip with their cargo.

Wolfe Island dairy farmer Leonard DeBruin said he had to dump 10,000 litres of milk due to the ferry outage. He said it represents about a $10,000 loss on his business.

"[Our milk is] meant for consumption, not for dumping. We don't produce the product to dump down the drain," he said.

DeBruin is one of numerous islanders who've been displeased with the problem-plagued Wolfe Islander IV, which came into service in August 2024 and was supposed to be an improvement from its predecessor, the Wolfe Islander III.

"The solution, first of all, would have been just another Wolfe Islander III rather than Wolfe Islander IV," he said.

"We don't matter," added island resident Al Hughes, who is also upset by the latest service outage.

"There's generations of folks that live in on this island and we're starting to see some people getting fed up."