Marine Atlantic passengers still waiting for promised rate cuts from new federal government

Passengers waiting for the Marine Atlantic ferry say they're also waiting for Prime Minister Mark Carney to follow through on a promise to cut travel rates.

As part of his platform, Carney announced that his government would lower the costs for passengers on Atlantic ferries, including Marine Atlantic, by at least half. He called ferries critical to Atlantic Canada and the national economy in a post on X.

Owen Collins, who's from Newfoundland and sailing to Nova Scotia, said rising costs on the ferry have limited his ability to travel.

"You come once a year instead, and now maybe it's twice a year, you know, because it's that expensive. It's crazy, really," Collins told CBC News from the ferry terminal in Port aux Basques.

Randy Jones of Ontario uses the ferry to access the province for sightseeing. He believes lowering the rate would lower the barrier for many others to do the same.

"You have to think about whether you want to go over there with the cost of everything else," he said.

"We all want to go someplace, and to get to Newfoundland and just to see the beautiful province, it should be done. It should be dropped."

Marine Atlantic ferries also serve as a key entry point for goods and heavy equipment to Newfoundland.

Louis Brideau, a trucker riding the ferry from Quebec, said the cost hurts his business. He had planned to depart on Thursday, but delayed his trip a day because it ultimately saved him money.

A lower rate would have been much more beneficial, he said.

"They keep promising stuff, and … they never do anything, you know? And it's hard on people," Brideau said, adding he feels Carney hasn't lived up to his promises.

But Beth Townsend and Abby Nowakowski, from Ontario, made it a point to visit Newfoundland's west coast based on another Carney promise that was followed through on.

The Canada Strong Pass, which was announced in April and came into effect on June 20, made admission to Gros Morne National Park free.

Townsend hopes the federal government follows through on a cut on ferry ticket prices.

"My interpretation of that was that they were kind of catching up and trying to do a lot of things with the new cabinet and everything, and maybe this is something that they're hopefully just going to get to in time," Townsend said.

"But hopefully people can hold them accountable."

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