Islanders from east to west 'thrilled' about Confederation Bridge toll, ferry rate reductions
P.E.I. business owners say reduced cost will help economy and bring in more visitors
Friday marked the first day that Confederation Bridge tolls and ferry fares were reduced on Prince Edward Island, and local businesses are already feeling the excitement.
Prime Minister Mark Carney visited the Island on Monday to announce that the bridge toll would go down to $20 from $50.25, and that rates to use the ferry would be cut by 50 per cent starting Aug. 1.
Jared Murphy, CEO and co-owner of Lone Oak Brewing Company, said the change will help small businesses in the province.
"$30 is $30.... If it's in somebody's pocket and they're looking to spend it, I really do think they'll spend more money in P.E.I. and it will help small business because of that," he said.
"I think this will entice people to visit P.E.I. more often. Certainly coming from the mainland over here and making a day trip out of it, it's going to be more affordable for people to do that."
Lone Oak operates multiple locations on the Island, including at the foot of the Confederation Bridge in Borden-Carleton.
Murphy said the toll reduction will also allow him to sell more of his products off-Island.
"We're getting our product over onto the mainland more and more now, and this is going to certainly make it more affordable."
Cora Lee Dunbar, chief administrative officer for Borden-Carleton, said she noticed more traffic headed to the bridge on her way into work Friday.
Dunbar said having the bridge toll at $20 will help P.E.I. compete with other provinces as a tourism destination.
"It's great news for the economy. It's great news for our town," she said.
"I'm thrilled that they've decided to reduce the fee. It's something that's been we've been waiting for for a long time and we're going to see definitely an increase in traffic flow."
There are seven years left in Ottawa's contract with the bridge's operator, Strait Crossing Bridge Limited. The federal government said it would revisit the toll cost when that deal expires.
Excitement in the east
In Wood Islands, on P.E.I.'s southeast coast, there were long lines of vehciles waiting to take the ferry across the Northumberland Strait to Nova Scotia on Friday.
Treena MacLeod, owner of Treena's Takeout near the ferry terminal, said the fare reductions will be good for eastern P.E.I.
"I think it will make a big difference" she said. "People who probably would have never have taken [the ferry might] make a day trip or a little weekend."
The ferry service between Wood Islands and Caribou, N.S., has faced its share of struggles ever since the MV Holiday Island caught fire in 2022 and had to be scrapped. Reliability issues and frequent cancellations have plagued the service ever since.
While MacLeod said the reduced fees may not make up for those past service issues, the lower cost should drive more people into the area.
"We could use some good news," she said. "It will definitely increase traffic, and it's something positive that we all could use."
Much like with the Confederation Bridge tolls, the fares for the Northumberland ferry route won't change for at least the next four years when the contract with the vessels' operator, Northumberland Ferries Limited, is up.
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With files from Tony Davis and Connor Lamont