Lower ferry rates spark excitement in Digby, Cape Breton
Fares from Digby to St. John and North Sydney to Newfoundland slashed by 50 per cent
Digby's deputy mayor says the town is thrilled by the federal government's decision to slash fares for passengers and commercial traffic on the ferry between Digby, N.S., and Saint John by 50 per cent.
In an interview with CBC News on Monday, Paul Saulnier said the news spells only good things for tourists, private citizens and Digby's seafood industry.
"I'm hoping it's going to be an increase in the economy, where we're trying to get seafood to market as fast as we can," he said.
The changes will go into effect on Aug. 1. That means the current one-way fare for a regularly sized vehicle will go down to $64 from $128, while the fare for an adult passenger will be reduced to $26.50 from $53. Commercial rates will see a similar reduction.
Saulnier said he has already heard from three people who now plan to make a trip to Saint John in the near future.
He said the lower fares will also provide a boost to organizers of the annual Wharf Rat Rally and Digby Scallop Days, which are both set for next month.
At a news conference held on Prince Edward Island on Monday, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that tolls would go down by over 50 per cent on the Confederation Bridge, and that fares on all federally supported ferry services in Atlantic Canada will go down by 50 per cent beginning on Aug. 1.
Dan White, the president of the West Nova Chamber of Commerce, which includes Digby, said the reduction in fares will encourage more people to do business in the area.
"For the truckers this is huge," he told Radio-Canada. "Now the cost goes down, so the cost of seafood goes down, the amount of business we're gonna do goes up."
Fares from Cape Breton to Newfoundland also going down
In Cape Breton, news that passenger and vehicle fares on Marine Atlantic ferries to Newfoundland and Labrador will be cut by 50 per cent was received warmly.
"This is positive news for our whole region," said Terry Smith, CEO of Destination Cape Breton.
"Anything the government does that will reduce costs for travellers will encourage people to travel more, maybe stay a little bit longer, maybe spend a little bit more."
Not everyone, however, is convinced it will lead to many more tourists staying in the area.
Gordon MacDonald, Cape Breton Regional Municipality's councillor for District 1, which includes North Sydney where the ferries depart, said that while the news is good for travellers, he's not optimistic it will increase tourism in the area.
"I don't think it's going to boost Sydney area's tourism a whole lot. It may boost Newfoundland to some degree, but unless we find a way to keep those tourists locally for a little while, I don't see a great benefit to us," he said.
He'd like to see more signage in the vicinity of the ferry terminal to highlight nearby attractions like the Cape Breton Fossil Centre and Sydney Mines Heritage Museum.
Daniel Mercer, communications officer with Marine Atlantic, said people who already paid for crossings in August and beyond will receive a partial refund to make up for the cost difference.
He said the reduction in fares could save families hundreds of dollars on their crossings.
Mercer said summer demand for the ferry service was already high and it will be interesting to see if lower fares increase traffic during the shoulder season, in the fall and spring.
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With files from Amy Smith, Radio-Canada and Gabrielle McLeod
