Latest news with #tolls
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ottawa makes good on promise to cut Confederation Bridge tolls, ferry fares in Eastern Canada
The federal government is slashing tolls on the Confederation Bridge and lowering ferry fares in Eastern Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced while in P.E.I. on Monday. "It's always a good day when you wake up on Prince Edward Island, and today is an especially good day. It's a big day," Carney said at the announcement on Prince Edward Island's South Shore, with the Confederation Bridge visible behind him. Effective Aug. 1, the cost of crossing the bridge, which connects P.E.I. with New Brunswick, will fall to $20 from $50.25. Transport trucks will also pay a flat rate of $20. There's no change in the cost for cyclists, pedestrians, shuttles or motorcycles. Fares for passengers, cars and commercial traffic on ferry services in Eastern Canada that are federally supported will go down by 50 per cent. Those ferries provide service between: Magdalen Islands, Que., and Souris, P.E.I. Wood Islands, P.E.I., and Caribou, N.S. Saint John, N.B., and Digby, N.S. "Today's announcement will mean more Canadians can see more of Atlantic Canada," Carney said. WATCH | Prime Minister Mark Carney on cuts to Confederation Bridge toll, key ferry fares in Eastern Canada: Fares for passengers and vehicles on the ferry that operates between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador are also going down. Ottawa has pledged to increase funding to the operator, Marine Atlantic, to lower the price by 50 per cent. Ottawa is also freezing commercial freight rates on that route. "The costs of the bridge and ferry don't just fall on tourists," Carney said. "If we are going to build a stronger, more united economy, and we are doing that, we are going to need to make it more affordable to travel around this country, for people and for businesses." WATCH | Islanders and tourists excited about reduced price to leave P.E.I.: For Rob Lantz, premier of P.E.I., Monday's announcement validated his months-long lobbying effort to reduce the fees. "I've been a real pest, a thorn in the side of everyone in Ottawa," he said. "We've been pushing for this forever. It's been 28 years that we've paid outrageous tolls on that bridge behind us and this is going to save Prince Edward Islanders tens of millions of dollars." The move will make life more affordable on P.E.I., he said "That bridge effectively acted as a tariff on everything we exported. And that is greatly, greatly reduced today." Rates will be frozen for several years According to Straight Crossing Bridge Ltd., the company that operates the Confederation Bridge, the $20 toll will apply to all passenger vehicles and transport trucks. Truckers will now be charged the flat rate instead of by the number of axles on their vehicle. The cost for cyclists, people walking or talking the shuttle, and riding a motorcycle will stay the same. There are seven years left in Straight Crossing's contract with Ottawa. Over that time, the federal government will cover the cost of keeping the toll at $20, said Heath MacDonald, MP for Malpeque and federal agriculture minister. Lowering the toll will cost taxpayers, he said, but the knock-on economic effects will outweigh that. WATCH | 'It's a good day': P.E.I. MP breaks down the deal to reduce bridge, ferry fees: "Ninety-five per cent of our products leave by transport. We have about a million cars and trucks coming across that bridge, for example, and ferry," MacDonald said. "That's extremely important... to small to medium-sized enterprises." Four years remain in Ottawa's contract with Northumberland Ferries Limited, the operator of the ferry service between P.E.I. and Nova Scotia. During that time, fares will be capped at 50 per cent of current rates, MacDonald said. The federal government estimates the entire deal will return about $100 million into Canadians' pockets each year — money they can then reinvest into the economy. When the contracts expire, prices will be back up for negotiation. 'An important decision for us' The importance of affordable travel is not lost on Joanne Thompson, the MP for the Newfoundland and Labrador riding of St. John's East and the federal fisheries minister. "We are reliant on Marine Atlantic as part of our connection with the Atlantic Canadian provinces and also the rest of Canada," Thompson said. More than 60 per cent of all goods transported to and from Newfoundland are handled by Marine Atlantic, the federal government said. It also transports about 90 per cent of all perishable items like fresh produce and propane for home heating. "This is an important decision for us on connectivity," Thompson said. "It's an important decision for our economy and it is important for our families." Minister of Transport and Internal Trade Chrystia Freeland echoed that statement and said the announcement brings measurable economic benefits during a "really challenging time for Canada." "If we work together, if we build one Canadian economy, if we build Canada strong we can give more to ourselves, we can do more for ourselves and each other than anyone can take away from us," Freeland said. This is Carney's first official visit to P.E.I. as prime minister since the federal election. The announcement makes good on his campaign pledge to reduce the Confederation Bridge tolls and cut ferry rates.
CBC
a day ago
- Business
- CBC
Confederation Bridge toll cuts an opportunity to 'unite the country': prof
Laurie Brinklow, chair of the Institute of Island Studies at the University of Prince Edward Island, says it's a 'big day' for the Maritimes. She says reducing tolls on the Confederation Bridge, which connects P.E.I. with New Brunswick, will not only help the region economically, but it will 'unite the country.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ottawa announces toll cuts, fare freezes to boost Atlantic Canada travel
Starting August 1, tolls on Prince Edward Island's Confederation Bridge will drop, on average, from $50.25 to $20.00, according to [a Monday announcement]( from Prime Minister Mark Carney. The plan, which aims to reduce costs assocaited with interprovincial transportation routes in Atlantic Canada and Eastern Québec, will also reduce fares by 50 per cent for passengers, vehicles, and commercial traffic on federally-supported Eastern Canada Ferry Services. Marine Atlantic Inc. ferry services will receive funding to reduce fares by 50 per cent for passengers and passenger vehicles on its routes. The corporation will also freeze commercial freight rates. Nearly 65 per cent of goods transported in and out of Newfoundland are transported by Marine Atlantic Inc., including 90 per cent of all perishables such as fresh produce, medical oxygen, and propane for home heating, reports The Weather Network's Nathan Coleman. 'Canada's new government is bringing costs down and building one, strong Canadian economy. The government is focused on reducing the cost of transportation, housing, and everyday expenses, and in parallel, connecting Canada's economy through major, nation-building infrastructure and breaking down internal trade barriers,' reads a statement on the Prime Minister's website. 'These changes deliver on a core commitment of the Prime Minister to unite the Canadian economy and put more money back in Canadians' pockets. These will help lower costs, improve mobility between provinces, and drive long-term economic growth for Canadians as we build the strongest economy in the G7.' The fare reductions and freezes will go into effect August 1. (Nathan Coleman) The confederation bridge was completed in 1997 and spans 12.9 kilometers. It can be subject to restrictions to high sided vehicles and closures during extreme wind events. Canadians encouraged to spend more money at home In April, Prime Minister Carney announced the introduction of the Canada Strong Pass, which became available at the start of June. The pass is designed to help kids and young families discover the best of Canada-for free. Under the plan, children and youth under 18 get free admission to national parks, galleries, and museums, along with free VIA Rail tickets when travelling with a parent. People in the 18 to 24-year-old age cohort are eligible for steep discounts. The pass also reduces fees for camping at national parks. VIDEO: Learn more about the Canada Strong pass Written with the help of files from Nathan Coleman. Header image: Cheryl Santa Maria for The Weather Network. Graphics and images sourced from Canva Pro. Created with Photoshop.
CTV News
a day ago
- Business
- CTV News
PM Carney announces cuts to tolls on Confederation Bridge, interprovincial ferry fares
Watch Prime Minister Carney announces cuts to tolls on the Confederation Bridge and reducing fares on interprovincial ferries to save travellers approximately $100 million.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ottawa cuts Confederation Bridge tolls, ferry fares in Atlantic Canada
ALBANY, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND — Tolls on the Confederation Bridge linking Prince Edward Island to Canada's mainland will drop sharply starting Aug. 1, along with several other Atlantic travel fees, the prime minister said Monday. Fulfilling a promise the Liberals made during the April election campaign, Mark Carney said the toll for an average vehicle will drop to $20 from $50.25 to cross the bridge. "We're doing this to bring … Canadians closer together," Carney told reporters. He made the announcement in Albany, P.E.I., with a view of the curved, 12.9- kilometre structure stretching off into the distance behind him. About one million vehicles a year drive over the crossing, which opened in 1997, connecting the Island to New Brunswick. A lease agreement with the bridge operator extends to 2032. The government is also cutting fares in half for passengers, vehicles and commercial traffic on federally supported Eastern Canada ferry services. Carney says the fee reductions are meant to boost interprovincial mobility — part of the government's plan to reduce internal trade barriers in response to the U.S. trade war. He noted the cumulative annual cost of the various reductions in fares and tolls to the public treasury will be about $100 million, but predicted the changes would generate increased traffic and lower the cost of living. Marine Atlantic, a constitutionally mandated ferry service connecting Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, will reduce traveller fares by 50 per cent and freeze commercial freight rates. The Marine Atlantic service is responsible for carrying 65 per cent of the goods that travel to and from Newfoundland. Carney said the Eastern Ferry services and Marine Atlantic carry an average of 2,500 people and 1,200 vehicles daily. "If we're going to build a stronger, more united economy … we're going to need to make it more affordable to travel around this country, for people and for businesses and that's what we're doing today," he said. Carney said the reduction to the Marine Atlantic fares for the crossings to Newfoundland and Labrador are expected to bring $28 million into that province's economy and boost out-of-province tourism. The ferry service carries medical supplies, fresh fruit and home heating fuel to the island, and the lower transport costs are expected to help reduce prices. The prime minister acknowledged during the announcement that Canadians are anxious about trade talks with U.S. president Donald Trump's administration. 'Canadians … don't deserve the uncertainty thrust among them,' he said. However, he said that while his officials are engaged in the "intense phase' of talks, his government remains focused on reducing internal trade barriers and improving national infrastructure. 'What we're doing is building our country, bringing it closer together. This is one tangible example,' he said. The visit to P.E.I. came after Carney took a tour of some of the oldest Acadian houses in New Brunswick Sunday afternoon. The prime minister visited a historic village in Bertrand, N.B., to highlight Acadian culture ahead of the Fête nationale de l'Acadie on Aug. 15. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 28, 2025. — With files from Michael Tutton in Halifax and Hina Alam in Bertrand, N.B. Keith Doucette, The Canadian Press Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
