A look towards the future

With 3 years of federal funding being spent into ferry services around here, it makes me wonder about long-term commitment to ferry services here on the east coast of Canada.  The only sure thing, in my mind is Marine Atlantic with a constitutionally mandated run to Newfoundland, and the Magdalen Islands run (both funded federally).  It makes me wonder on the future of the Digby-Saint John ferry, now, I would honestly miss the Princess of Acadia when (or maybe even if) they retire her in the next couple of years, however, ferry runs around the east coast should be treated like a highway or bridge, so, capital investments are needed to be made, not just at Marine Atlantic, but on the NFL-BAY ferries as well.  In my opinion, it should be purpose-built ships built either in Canada or the United States (The Grand Manan Adventure is currently under construction in Florida).  I honestly don't want "refitted" ships for Northumberland and Bay Ferries since it might not be appropriate (as much as I think Marine Atlantic is making a huge mistake retiring the work horses of the fleet prematurely).  If this is what the Government thinks about these important services, god help us.  We used to be a nation that took pride in building ships, now, it's cost over-runs and other factors that are making shipyards outside of Canada (mainly Germany and Finland) looking better to build (or refit) newer vessels in the future.  Case in point: BC Ferries built their first ferries in BC, as of 2006, they went to Flensburg, Germany to have new ferries built.  This might be a sign to the future for new (or newer) ferries to run any service here. In my opinion, the ferries are the "seabridges" of Canada, and should be treated like a highway and well maintained often.