Abandonment of passenger service for the second time on this route (by the same political party) was especially controversial for southwestern New Brunswickers who viewed it as a convenient excuse by the federal government to cut the service for both shortsighted fiscal and strategic political reasons. Paul Martin was making aggressive budget cuts throughout the federal government, thus concentrating service on the "Ocean"'s route would likely save some money. The "Ocean" also travelled a route that passed through then-Minister of Transport Doug Young's riding of Acadie-Bathurst. The "Atlantic" also passed through the only two ridings in the country which elected Progressive Conservatives - Elsie Wayne in Saint John and Jean Charest in Sherbrooke. It also didn't help that the "Atlantic" passed through Maine (U.S. territory) on its short route between Montreal and Saint John.