The federal government is cutting tolls on the Confederation bridge and lowering the Ferry rates in East Canada, announced Prime Minister Mark Carney while on the island of Prince Eduardo on Monday.
“It’s always a good day when you wake up on Prince Eduardo Island, and today is a especially good day. It’s a great day,” said Carney in Albany’s announcement, with the visible confederation bridge behind him.
As of August 1, the cost of crossing the bridge that connects PEI with New Brunswick will fall to $ 20 from $ 50.25. Rate for passengers, cars and commercial traffic in ferry services in East Canada that have federal support will decrease by 50 percent.
Those transfers provide service between:
- Îles-de-la-madeleine, which., And souris, pei
- Wooden Islands, Pei and Caribou, ns
- Saint John, NB and Digby, ns
The federal government also announced that it was discarding fuel surcharges on those routes.
“Today’s announcement will mean that more Canadians can see more from Atlantic Canada,” said Carney.
The rates for passengers and vehicles in the ferry that operates between New Scotland and Newfoundland and Labrador are also going down. Ottawa has pledged to increase funds for the operator, Marine Atlantic, to reduce the price by 50 percent. Ottawa is also freezing commercial freight rates on that route.
“The costs of the bridge and the ferry not only fall into tourists,” said Carney. “If we are going to build a stronger and more united economy, and we are doing it, we will have to make it more affordable to travel in this country, for people and for companies.”
The Minister of Transport and Internal Commerce, Chrystia Freeland, said the announcement brings measurable economic benefits for a “really challenging moment for Canada.”
“But if we work together, if we build a Canadian economy, if we build Canada Fuerte, we can give ourselves more, we can do more for ourselves and among us that no one can take us.”
This is the first official visit to Pei as Prime Minister. The announcement meets its promise during the federal electoral campaign to reduce tolls on the Confederation bridge and reduce Ferry rates.
More to come
