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 Prince Edward Island 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 in Albany, 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. 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:

• Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Que., and Souris, P.E.I.
• Wood Islands, P.E.I., and Caribou, N.S. 
• Saint John, N.B., and Digby, N.S. 

The federal government also announced it was scrapping fuel surcharges on those routes.

“Today’s announcement will mean more Canadians can see more of Atlantic Canada,” Carney said. 

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.” 

Minister of Transport and Internal Trade Chrystia Freeland said the announcement brings measurable economic benefits during a “really challenging time for Canada.” 

“But 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.”

This is Carney’s first official visit to P.E.I. as prime minister. The announcement makes good on his pledge during the federal election campaign to reduce tolls on the Confederation Bridge and cut ferry fares.

More to come