Latest news with #ConfederationBridge
CTV News
a day ago
- Business
- CTV News
Lowering Confederation Bridge toll at the top of P.E.I. Premier's list when meeting with Prime Minister
Prince Edward Island's Confederation Bridge is seen on May 31, 2022. (CTV Atlantic) Lowering the Confederation Bridge toll is at the top of Prince Edward Island Premier Rob Lantz's list when he meets with Prime Minister Mark Carney next week. Lantz will travel to Ontario for the First Ministers' Meeting and Council of the Federation from July 21 to 23. 'First and foremost, I will be speaking directly with Prime Minister Carney and his team about the immediate need to follow through on their promise to lower the tolls on the Confederation Bridge to $20 and reduce the Wood Islands Ferry tolls by half,' he said in a news release Friday. Carney said he would lower the tolls during his election campaign in April. Currently, the Confederation Bridge toll is $50.25. Lantz said he also intends to bring up recent issues with the new MV Northumberland and will ask that Transport Canada officials 'monitor the situation closely.' 'It is imperative that we have a consistent, two-vessel ferry service throughout the season to support our economy and maintain confidence in our transportation infrastructure,' said Lantz. The meetings bring together all of Canada's premiers from each of the 13 provinces and territories. 'It enables Premiers to work collaboratively, form closer ties, foster constructive relationships among governments, and show leadership on important issues that matter to Canadians,' reads a news release from the Council of the Federation. Lantz said he also hopes to work with his colleagues to continue to break down internal trade barriers, explore new trading partnerships and increase labour mobility throughout the country. 'With ongoing uncertainty in our trade relationship with the United States, it is more important than ever that we strengthen our domestic economic ties and work together to explore new markets for our products and services around the world,' said Lantz. For more P.E.I. news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTV News
03-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
‘I'll believe it when I see it': Islanders frustrated over wait to lower Confederation Bridge tolls
Frustration is growing over a lack of a firm timeline for when the federal government will drop tolls at the Confederation Bridge. Maria Sarrouh has more. Frustration is growing over a lack of a firm timeline for when the federal government will drop tolls at the Confederation Bridge. Maria Sarrouh has more. People on Prince Edward Island are eager to see the federal election campaign promise to lower tolls at the Confederation Bridge fulfilled. Every time a vehicle crosses from P.E.I. to New Brunswick, the driver pays $50 and some change, despite a campaign promise from Prime Minister Mark Carney to cut the toll to $20. But with no firm timeline to change the cost , frustration is growing. 'I'll believe it when I see it,' one man told CTV News. 'Not gonna happen, that was just an election promise, in my opinion,' said another. For some tourists, the toll is a small price to pay to see P.E.I. 'I think, to be honest, it's fair enough,' said one woman. 'It's beautiful over here, we're staying on a little farm, it's so nice,' said another. Trailers and commercial trucks pay a higher toll, and it adds up for big businesses on the island and across the East Coast. 'There's probably 40-to-50 trucks a day for the same company going back and forth; it's a lot,' said one truck driver. Nearly one million vehicles cross the Confederation Bridge every year and business leaders say every truckload of supplies drives up the cost of operating on the island. The province's potato industry is one of the hardest hit, with up to $7 million in toll-related costs. Small and medium-sized businesses could be more competitive if the tolls are cut, according to the Greater Summerside Chamber of Commerce. 'I think it is really needed at this point. You know, get people looking out there and starting to choose the Atlantic option opposed to the Amazon option,' said Mitch Martin, the chamber's executive director. CTV News reached out to the prime minister's office for comment on his commitment to cutting P.E.I. bridge tolls and ferry prices but didn't get a response by deadline. P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz has called the issue a trade barrier and local politicians pushed for the drop to be done by Canada Day. Egmont MP Robert Morrissey was one of them. 'I have every confidence that the prime minister will deliver on the commitment that he made on behalf of us, and I'm in contact with his office on a regular basis. In fact, I spoke to them yesterday,' he said. Morrissey adds the bridge is federally-owned, but operated by a private group, so lowering the toll means negotiations. He hopes for movement by the end of the summer. For more P.E.I. news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTV News
02-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
CTV National News: Frustrations over tolls to cross Confederation Bridge
Watch Frustration is growing over a lack of a firm timeline for when the federal government will drop tolls at the Confederation Bridge. Maria Sarrouh has more.
CTV News
03-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
‘It's an amazing event': Terry Fox's brother reflects on his legacy as run returns to Confederation Bridge
Terry Fox's brother Fred talks about marking the 45th anniversary of the Marathon of Hope and its return to the Confederation Bridge. After a decade-long break, the Terry Fox Run is returning to the Confederation Bridge in September for the 45th anniversary of the Marathon of Hope. Participants will be able to cross from New Brunswick and P.E.I. on foot over the Confederation Bridge. The Terry Fox Run first took place over the 13-kilometre bridge in 2005. Fred Fox, Terry Fox's older brother, remembers when Terry told him he was going to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. 'My reaction, being only a year older than Terry, and watching Terry and growing up with him and seeing how he committed to himself, was, 'Good for you Terry, we'll see you when you get back,'' said Fred. After losing his right leg to cancer when he was 18, Terry Fox decided to run across Canada to raise awareness and money for cancer research. Terry Fox began his cross-Canada Marathon of Hope on April 12, 1980, in St. John's, N.L. He went on to run 5,373 kilometres in 143 days, but was forced to stop outside Thunder Bay, Ont., on Sept. 1, 1980, when doctors confirmed his cancer had spread to his lungs. He died less than a year later, one month before his 23rd birthday. 'When the very first Terry Fox Run started happening in 1981 and into the early 80s, our parents were told to expect the Terry Fox Run to end very soon, that people will forget what Terry did in 1980,' Fred said. But it was Terry's honesty, integrity and purpose for running that kept the Marathon of Hope alive, Fred said. 'He was so happy to be able to run one province in one day,' Fred said about Terry running through P.E.I. The Terry Fox Run over the Confederation Bridge took place every five years but had to be put on hold in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. 'It's an amazing event,' Fred said. 'I think it's a great opportunity not only for people to get back on the bridge – you can't do that very often – but to be there to raise money for cancer research and continuing Terry's dream.' The Confederation Bridge between New Brunswick and P.E.I. will be closed to vehicle traffic between 6 a.m. and 1 p.m. to make way for runners and walkers. Every year, participants and volunteers in about 600 communities across Canada take part in the Terry Fox Run. People can register for the Confederation Bridge Terry Fox Run, purchase merchandise and fundraise for cancer research at To date, the Terry Fox Foundation has raised more than $950 million and paid for more than 1,300 cancer research projects. With files from The Canadian Press Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope For more P.E.I. news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTV News
03-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Businesses call to lower Confederation Bridge Toll
Businesses call to lower Confederation Bridge Toll The Canadian Business Federation called for the reduction or removal of tolls on the Confederation Bridge.
