Confederation Bridge tolls: Your comments

The debate over bridge tolls on the Confederation Bridge was re-ignited this week as a report from the parliamentary budget officer was released — looking at what it would cost to reduce tolls or provide a tax credit to residents.

The report was sparked by repeated questions from Atlantic Canada politicians about why drivers in Montreal won't have to pay tolls for a new bridge to replace the Champlain Bridge, while tolls remain in place on the Confederation Bridge.

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The report found creating a tax credit for residents who cross the Confederation Bridge would cost the treasury about $2.5 million each year.

It estimated tolls could be reduced by about 46 per cent and still provide enough money to the bridge's private operator to cover maintenance costs through to 2097 when the Confederation Bridge turns 100.

Those options garnered a lot of comments on CBC Prince Edward Island's Facebook page.

(Please note that usernames are not necessarily the names of commenters. Some comments have been altered to correct spelling and to conform to CBC style.)

'It's about time'

Some of the comments support a reduction — or making the bridge free altogether.

"It's about time," wrote Sandi Silva.

"Islanders should have had a break long before now," wrote Anne Swanson.

What would it mean for the economy?

"If tolls were reduced by 45 per cent chances are more people would use the bridge more often and revenues would go up," wrote Heather Waterson.

"Careful what you wish for folks," cautioned Reid Paynter. "A free toll could be devastating to businesses big and small, as you the consumer would leave to shop on mainland more often … asking for this just might change your whole landscape and it may not be for the best."

He added that he did support removing the toll for people travelling to access medical services off-Island, something that was echoed in many other comments.

Justin Doiron said he supported free travel for medical reasons, "but I'm not interested in paying for people's weekend trips to Costco."

What happens to the ferry?

Some pointed out that reducing the bridge toll could hurt the ferry service between Wood Islands, P.E.I., and Caribou, N.S.

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"What happens to all the people who rely on the ferry for their livelihoods? Paying the bridge toll sucks, but people out of work is worse," wrote Charlie Schurman.

"Whatever happens with the bridge, there needs to be an equal amount of whatever put into the ferry," wrote Dylan Sampson. "If you cut prices in half on the bridge, do so for the ferry as well."

'Very little in life is free'

"It would be nice if it was free or even less but very little in life is free," wrote Karen Beauregard. "The government has to get the money somewhere and if it not bridge fees it would be higher gas prices, or higher vehicle registration."

She added if the toll was waived, other provinces might take note.

"It could set a precedent in which B.C. would want free service to Vancouver Island and N.L. would want free service to their island. It is annoying that we need to pay it but that is what happens when you live on an Island!"

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