The government paint and body shop is moving to Tignish. (CBC)

Workers in the Department of Transportation are speaking out about plans to move their jobs from the Charlottetown area to Tignish.

The province's paint and body shop is currently located just outside Charlottetown. The move would put seven workers at a two-hour drive from where they are currently living.

"I'm established here," said Greg Walsh.

"My wife has a job in Charlottetown. I'd like to stay in the Charlottetown area."

The workers have presented the government with a petition with 300 names, asking that the decision be reversed. The move is part of the government's rural development strategy. In addition to the body shop jobs, five administrative positions are also moving.

The workers' complaints go beyond their own personal problems. Joey Bingley questions the economics of moving the care of the government's vehicle fleet so far from the centre of the Island.

Greg Walsh wants to stay in the Charlottetown area. (CBC)

"It's the furthest tip of the Island," said Bingley.

"You're going to move, travel, float everything up to Tignish. It's an awful waste of taxpayers' money."

Not surprisingly, people in Tignish are in favour of the idea.

"Awesome. It gives opportunities for other people that are younger to get jobs," said Nicole Gavin.

"I think it's great. We need lots of jobs here in Tignish," said Lucy McHugh.

The government plan is that workers from West Prince will eventually move into these jobs. The provincial sign shop moved to Tignish from Charlottetown in 1992. Six local people now work there.

Transportation Minister Ron MacKinley said the paint and body shop will definitely be joining it.

"You got to look at production. We've got to get more production out of your staff," said MacKinley.

"You need better working conditions and more modern working conditions and that's what we're doing." The government is still looking for a site in Tignish to build the new shop.