P.E.I. politicians call on Ottawa to reduce bridge, ferry tolls by Canada Day

Canada Day would be a good deadline for Prime Minister Mark Carney to deliver on his campaign promise to reduce tolls on the Confederation Bridge and Northumberland Ferries service, says Egmont MP Bobby Morrissey.

"July 1 would be an ideal timeline," Morrissey said. "I will push with the government and with the prime minister until we have this in place." 

Morrissey wrote to Carney last week emphasizing the importance of timing and suggesting that Canada Day would be a "symbolic day for Islanders." 

It would also be a realistic date, he said. 

"Remember, we removed the carbon tax within a short period of time, which was much more complex," he said. "So. reducing the toll … would be a very easy thing for government to do."

While campaigning in P.E.I. for last month's election, Carney announced that his government would cut Confederation Bridge tolls by more than half and reduce the cost of Northumberland Ferries fares by at least 50 per cent.

Bridge tolls are now more than $50. The ferry costs nearly $90. 

Tolls a trade barrier

Carney said in March that he and the premiers agreed to develop a plan to have "free trade by Canada Day" between the provinces and territories. 

Charlottetown Sen. Percy Downe, who has been advocating for reduced tolls on the bridge and ferry service for over a decade, said the tolls are a trade barrier and must come down. 

"It increases the cost for businesses and/or consumers to get across the region and to get our products out of the region," Downe said. 

Lower tolls would reduce costs for Islanders, provide a boost to the province's tourism industry and make it easier for Islanders to travel out of province to access services like medical care, he said. 

"It's an overall win for the province," Downe said. "It's a win for the people of Prince Edward Island." 

Calls grow louder

P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz said he signed a letter to send to Transportation Minister Chrystia Freeland and expects to speak with Carney about the tolls soon. 

"I have confidence," he said. "I see no reason why they would back away from the commitment that they made." 

The Canada Day deadline might be ambitious, Lantz said, but it would be great to make it happen. 

"It's going to be up to the federal government to figure out the mechanics of making this happen, but I don't see why they couldn't just change the signs at the bridge and reprogram the point of sale systems to make it $20 and then figure the rest out later," he said.