PEI’s prime minister, Rob Lantz, says he has a verbal commitment from the federal government that Prince Eduardo’s islanders will receive “positive news” about the tolls of the Confederation and the rates of transfers of Northumberland “in the next few days.”
The Lantz office issued a statement just before 8:30 pm on Friday night, after he and the other Canada ministers met with Prime Minister Mark Carney In Ottawa.
“Thanks to the Federal Government for listening to my concerns, and the concerns of all the islanders, and committing to end these barriers for the islanders and our economy,” Lantz said in his press release.
PEI’s government has been arguing for some time to accuse citizens and companies of the island to cross the continent on the bridge or car passenger ferry is unfair, especially since the Confederation bridge that joins Pei and New Brunswick is considered a continuation of the traveled road.
Seasonal car passenger ferries operated by Northumberland Ferries connect East Pei with the northern part of Nueva Scotia.
The round trip toll for a standard two axes vehicle to cross the Confederation bridge is $ 50.25. For Ferry service, the round trip rate costs $ 86 for passenger vehicles up to 20 feet long and 7 feet high.
“After a productive day of meetings with Prime Minister Mark Carney, Minister Chrystia Freeland and Minister Dominic Leblanc, I have a verbal commitment that the islanders will receive positive news on the bridge of the Confederation and the tolls of the Ferry of the Made Islands in the coming days,” said Lantz’s press communication.
The meeting between Carney and the provincial and territorial leaders lasted about 40 minutes than expected, and occurs two days before a federal election is called.
After the meeting, Carney said that he and Canada’s ministers agreed to develop a National Commercial Strategy That would release trade through provincial and territorial borders for Canada’s day.
The meeting occurred only two days before Bodya is expected to submerge the country in an electoral spring campaign.
Shortly after the Lantz office issued his statement, the liberal deputy of Malpeque Heath Macdonald published about the development in X, previously Twitter.
“Today is a great day for the islanders,” Macdonald’s Post said. “After several meetings and consultations with the newly appointed Minister of Commerce, Chrystia Freeland, and Prime Minister Carney, our government will announce positive changes in the Confederation bridge, details that will arrive soon.”
The deputy of Charlottetown, Sean Casey, also published on social networks, saying: “The prime minister has pledged to reduce the toll on the Confederation bridge, a direct result of the recent meeting of the PEI parliamentarians with Minister Chrystia Freeland to advocate the most fair costs of our province. We are proud to offer real progress for the islands.”
Justice -based campaign
In October, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business joined the Lobby for politicians and companies of PEI by launching a awareness campaign called “Free the Bridge”.
He asked federal officials and federal candidates of 2025 to “seriously consider” the removal of the round trip toll that is collected when the vehicles leave the island (a toll of the vehicles that lead to the island from New Brunswick is not collected).
The Lobby Business group criticized the “inequality of continuous tolls” on the Confederation bridge compared to other important federal projects, such as the Samuel de Champlain bridge without toll in Montreal and the Quebec bridge between Sainte-Foy and Lévis in the Quebec city area.
Joe Sawler, owner of Justjoes Automotive in Stratford, PEI, said at that time that the toll of the bridge was difficult for small businesses such as his.
“Add costs to all our goods,” said Sawler. “Whether it is tires, oils or pens or air sethors, everything is worked on.”
