P.E.I. businesses owners cautiously optimistic about reduction in rates for bridge, ferry
Eastern P.E.I. Chamber of Commerce president concerned about reliability and maintenance of ferries
The business community on Prince Edward Island is welcoming the news of a reduction in the rates they'll pay to cross the Northumberland Strait to mainland Canada, but some owners are cautious about the changes.
Prime Minister Mark Carney made an appearance in P.E.I. on Monday to announce that the cost of crossing the Confederation Bridge, which connects P.E.I. with New Brunswick, will fall to $20 from $50.25 as of Aug. 1. On the same date, fares to use the ferry service from the eastern end of this province to Nova Scotia will go down by 50 per cent.
Blair Aitken, president of the Eastern P.E.I. Chamber of Commerce, said he wants to make sure the reductions don't compromise maintenance costs for the ferries.
"It has been, and will continue to be something that's of high importance to business and residents in the region," Aitken said.
"I think that would be of our biggest concern is to make sure that... the cost of maintenance is being covered and there's no shortfall there as a result of this reduction."
The seasonal ferry service that runs between Wood Islands, P.E.I., and Caribou, N.S., has been struggling since MV Holiday Island was scrapped after a fire in the summer of 2022. MV Confederation and a new ferry this year, MV Northumberland, have since faced their own share of trouble with reliability.
If the federal government's fare reduction doesn't come at the expense of the ferries' reliability, Aitken said it could drive many more people to businesses in the eastern end of P.E.I.
"No question it'll probably bring more people to the eastern part of the Island, and it will increase traffic overall, both commercial and non-commercial."
'Money in everybody's pocket'
Scott Annear, general manager of the Brudenell-based trucking company Morley Annear Limited, said the toll reductions will help the province's economy.
"Even if it doesn't amount to an awful lot for me, it's going to help the potato farmer that I'm hauling potatoes for, its going to equate to money in everybody's pocket for sure," he said.
Annear said his trucks haul many things to the mainland, including potatoes, mussels, lobster, gravel and grain. He estimates he only uses the ferry service about 25 per cent on the time.
But, he said, the reduction could make it easier for P.E.I. businesses to compete with others off-Island.
"It will give us a little bit more even playing field with somebody that's from New Brunswick," Annear said. "It might get our product to market a little bit cheaper."
Potential for more opportunities
Sam Sanderson, executive director of the Construction Association of P.E.I., said the toll changes could reduce costs for material imports and allow for more exports.
"If there is a reduced cost, it's generally always passed down," he said. "It opens up the opportunity for exporting more product. Maybe there's a way we can do more manufacturing on P.E.I."
Sanderson said this reduction will help Islanders get access to more products and services.
"We all want to stay in P.E.I., but there's avenues we have to travel outside of P.E.I., whether it be health care or leisure or whatever," he said. "Reducing that cost is so important, and will help Islanders."
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With files from Tony Davis and Laura Meader