Furey says Marine Atlantic fares should be axed as 'a matter of fairness,' in response to P.E.I. promise

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey says the Marine Atlantic fee should be axed, citing an election campaign promise by some federal politicians to eliminate the toll on P.E.I.'s Confederation Bridge.

Furey says he spoke this week with Liberal Leader Mark Carney about interprovincial trade barriers. One of those barriers, Furey says, is the cost of travelling and transporting goods to Newfoundland by boat — specifically on board vessels owned by Marine Atlantic, the Crown corporation that operates a year-round ferry service between Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.

"Every time a vehicle comes on, whether it's for tourism or for services and goods, there's essentially a toll. And we want to get rid of that toll," Furey told reporters on Thursday.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said he would eliminate the tolls on the bridge between New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Liberal Leader Mark Carney hinted he had "positive news" coming on bridge tolls and ferry rates. 

Furey said he wants a similar offer for Newfoundland and Labrador.

"It is a matter of fairness and equivalency," he told reporters.

Furey didn't go into detail Thursday about what specific fee should be cut, but in an email to CBC News on Friday, spokesperson Meghan McCabe clarified that Furey was referring to Marine Atlantic fares being either reduced or eliminated, potentially for passenger and commercial vehicles.

She said that would not necessarily extend to other Marine Atlantic ticket fees, like those for cabins.

"The issue is that like the bridge in P.E.I., the ferry serves as an extension of the TCH for us," McCabe wrote.

Furey said the move would cost the federal government an estimated $120 million, and that it would be equivalent to P.E.I.'s offer.

"That offer should exist for the people of our province. There should be no fees on Marine Atlantic. That is a resolution that is based on fairness," he said.

"It's a solution based on eliminating internal trade barriers and the cost of living. And of course, it's constitutionally protected in our Terms of Union 75 years ago."

A barrier

Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture Minister Gerry Byrne has also referred to Marine Atlantic as a barrier to interprovincial free trade.

"There is an impediment to successful trade with the rest of the country created by Transport Canada, not Marine Atlantic, created by the government of Canada," Byrne recently told CBC Radio's On The Go.

He wants trucks carrying goods on Marine Atlantic ferries to be able to drive on to the ferry at no cost.

"If we had the same deal that P.E.I. is about to get, the economy of Newfoundland and Labrador would literally have to be measured by an increase in the billions," said Byrne.

He said the benefits could be big for this province, including thousands more jobs and the growth of the provincial GDP by hundreds of millions of dollars.

'Key' to economic growth

Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation Steve Crocker said access is the greatest challenge to cultivating the province's tourism industry.

Adding ferry capacity is vital for growing the tourism sector, as well as other industries that make up Newfoundland and Labrador's economy, Crocker said.

"We need to get goods and services into and out of this province, and Marine Atlantic is key to that," he said.

Additional ferry runs would add capacity during peak seasons, and a swing vessel that would be used in rotation during those busy months could also help, he added.

It comes as both tourism operators and the provincial government hope Canadian travellers boycotting the U.S. will instead visit Newfoundland and Labrador.

"If you wanna come to Newfoundland, Labrador, we wanna make it as easy as possible for you to get [here]," said Crocker.

Tourism needs help

Provincial politicians aren't the only ones behind the push to convince Ottawa to subsidize Marine Atlantic fares.

Tourism industry association Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador has started a letter-writing campaign targeting federal party leaders, asking them to look at the ferry service's affordability, consider competitive pricing models and to recognize ferry access as a national infrastructure issue.

"We feel it's a pivotal time right now in tourism, in growth of tourism in Newfoundland and Labrador," chair John Devereaux told CBC Radio's The St. John's Morning Show prior to Furey's comments about Marine Atlantic.

Ferry capacity is a big problem during the peak summer season, said Devereaux.

He added some potential visitors want to make the journey but due to the cost, sometimes can't.

Marine Atlantic spokesperson Darrell Mercer declined to comment, as Marine Atlantic is a federal Crown corporation and due to the ongoing campaign, the government is in a caretaker role.

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