Nova Star review blacks out figures on start-up expenditures

The Stephen McNeil government has released a $16,000, eight-page review of the $25 million in expenditures for the heavily subsidized Nova Star ferry.

The accounting firm KPMG found "there is nothing to report" but blacked out figures detailing start-up expenditures for the Yarmouth ferry.

The Liberals hired the accountants as the ferry blew through a seven-year, $21 million provincial government subsidy in a matter of months.

In October the Liberals said KPMG would audit Nova Star costs "looking for savings and will advise on a plan [for] future years."

The eight-page report lacks any details. It did show that when it sampled 1,037 transactions with an aggregate totalling $25,480,288, it found the operator unable to provide supporting documentation for 35 transactions, with an aggregate value of $79,265.

Meanwhile Nova Star said Thursday the ferry will leave Shelburne today, where it has been tied up since late November, for Charleston, South Carolina.

The report is part of $90,000 of work the province has budgeted for KPMG. Thefigure also includes ongoing advice. The province says it may not use up the full amount budgeted.