Remove bridge toll? 'No way,' says P.E.I. transportation minister

P.E.I.'s Transportation minister told a provincial standing committee on infrastructure and energy that when her federal counterpart asked about removing the toll on Confederation Bridge, her response was "no way."

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"We all know what will happen to the ferry if we go lobbying for free service," Paula Biggar told the committee Thursday.

"I have been asked that question by the federal minister. I said 'no way,' and I'll put that on record. That we are not lobbying to take the toll off because of the importance of the ferry service to Prince Edward Island."

Minister clarifies what she actually said

After the meeting, Biggar told CBC News she didn't actually use the words "no way" in her discussion with federal Transportation Minister Marc Garneau on the issue of bridge tolls in late 2015.

"The question [from Garneau] was, 'What do you think of the conversation that's going on about … cancelling the bridge tolls on P.E.I?'" said Biggar.

If they want to [reduce the tolls] I think it's great.- Paula Biggar

"My response was … 'If that was to happen, it would have to not be at the demise or reduction of anything to do with Wood Islands ferry."

Biggar added if Ottawa wants to help ease the burden of crossing the bridge, she'd have no opposition.

"If they want to [reduce the tolls] I think it's great," she said. "I support it, but not at the expense of Wood Islands."

'We have a double standard'

P.E.I. Senator Percy Downe has been leading the charge to remove the toll on Confederation Bridge, basing his argument on the promise from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that there will be no toll on Montreal's new Champlain Bridge once construction is complete.

"We have a double standard," Downe said. "The federal government has to rectify that."

Removing the bridge toll wouldn't necessarily doom the ferry, Downe said.

He noted the ferry from Saint John, N.B., to Digby, N.S., continues to operate with a federal subsidy, even though drivers can simply bypass it by driving around the Bay of Fundy.

While Downe would like to see the P.E.I. government embrace the idea of eliminating bridge tolls, he said there's still time for local politicians to come onboard, suggesting pressure from voters could eventually help change some minds.

"Where the province's position is on the eve of the next provincial election … I think will be a better indicator of where they are."

Opposition MLA 'appalled' at funding choices

The debate Thursday over the province's $65-million commitment to build a Cornwall bypass took a turn to the issue of funding for the ferry service when opposition MLA Darlene Compton began to question the province's funding priorities.

Compton represents the district of Belfast-Murray River, which includes the P.E.I. ferry terminal in Wood Islands.

The ferry service suffered all through the peak summer season, with one of its two boats out for repairs.

"There was no talk provincially about cost-sharing or joining some kind of new contract [with Northumberland Ferries], but yet there's $65 million to save three minutes in Cornwall," Compton said to Biggar.

"If you think, because you found money from the federal government, that this should be the priority without discussing it with everyone in the Legislative Assembly, that is wrong … I'm appalled with the decision that's been made for this Cornwall bypass."

Biggar responded that the P.E.I. government is not signatory to the agreement between Northumberland Ferries and the federal government to provide ferry service to the Island. She also expressed her support for the ferry.

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