Travelling to and from Prince Edward Island is about to become a lot more affordable.
On July 28, Prime Minister Mark Carney and his team visited the East Coast province to announce that the federal government would be reducing the toll on Confederation Bridge and cutting the cost of ferries between East Coast provinces.
“Internal trade barriers have held our country back for far too long. They’ve driven up the cost of doing business and created roadblocks for industry expansion nationwide,” said Chrystia Freeland, the Minister of Transport and Internal Trade, during the announcement. “To build a strong, dynamic economy, affordable and accessible transportation is key. Cutting fares and tolls will allow people to move around more easily, boosting interprovincial travel and tourism, supporting business growth, and strengthening cultural ties between our provinces and territories.”
Previously, the Confederation Bridge, which connects the Trans-Canada Highway between Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick, cost vehicles $50.25 to cross. As of August 1, the federal government is reducing that toll to $20.
The Confederation Bridge is the main route on and off Prince Edward Island, handling approximately 90 to 95 per cent of passenger and commercial traffic. In 2024, 990,198 vehicles crossed the bridge.
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“These tolls have placed an unfair cost on our province, making life more expensive, creating barriers for businesses and tourism, and making it harder for Islanders to stay connected. Islanders have been asking for this for a long time. These tolls have never reflected the reality of living in a province that relies so heavily on our connections to our neighbouring provinces,” said Prince Edward Island Premier Rob Lantz, in a statement. “I’m pleased to see the federal government responding to those concerns.”
Also on August 1, the federal government will slash ferry prices by 50 per cent on three federally supported ferry routes. This includes the ferry between Wood Islands, P.E.I. and Caribou, N.S., the ferry between Saint John, N.B., and Digby, N.S., and the ferry between Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Qué., and Souris, P.E.I.
Additionally, the federal government will be subsidizing a fourth ferry service operated by Marine Atlantic Inc., a federal Crown corporation, to allow the company to reduce its fares by 50 per cent. This ferry service connects Newfoundland with Nova Scotia, transporting 65 per cent of goods to Newfoundland.
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The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has applauded the federal government’s toll and fare cuts, pointing out that the Confederation Bridge toll alone used to cost the potato industry over $7 million per year.
“This is an important moment for small businesses in Atlantic Canada,” said Frédéric Gionet, CFIB’s director for the region, in a statement. “For too long, high tolls on critical transportation links have made it more expensive to do business, move goods, and connect communities. Today’s announcement represents meaningful relief.”
But not everyone is pleased with the cuts. During a press conference, B.C. Premier David Eby pointed out the inequality in subsidies between East Coast ferries and B.C. ferries. According to Eby, the East Coast ferries receive approximately $300 in federal support for every $1 B.C. ferries receives per user.
“We’re going to need the federal government to have a serious look at their policy in relation to ferry users in British Columbia and ensure fair treatment for ferry users here,” he said.
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