{"id":57303,"date":"2025-07-28T12:24:43","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T15:24:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thelaker.ca\/?p=57303"},"modified":"2025-07-28T12:24:43","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T15:24:43","slug":"tolls-for-confederation-bridge-fares-for-ferry-services-being-reduced","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/?p=57303","title":{"rendered":"Tolls for Confederation Bridge, fares for ferry services being reduced"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"alignnormal\">[metaslider id=&#8221;56506&#8243;]<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>PEI:<\/strong> It will cost you less to leave PEI beginning this Friday Aug. 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Monday morning in PEI, with the Confederation Bridge in the background, that the federal government would keep its promise to lower bridge tolls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They will be reduced from $50.25 to $20 as of August 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Besides the reduction in bridge tolls, the government is also reducing the fare price on Eastern Canadian ferry services that are federally supported by 50 per cent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>ADVERTISEMENT:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"alignnormal\">[metaslider id=&#8221;56526&#8243;]<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:36px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"alignnormal\">[metaslider id=&#8221;56179&#8243;]<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Effective August 1, 2025, the breakdown in reduction is as follows: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cutting Confederation Bridge tolls for all vehicles from over $50 to $20.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cutting fares by 50% for passengers, vehicles, and commercial traffic on the Eastern Canada Ferry Services that are federally supported, as well as eliminating all fuel surcharges for the ferries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Funding Marine Atlantic Inc. to reduce its fares by 50% for passengers and passenger vehicles on both routes and freeze commercial freight rates.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These changes deliver on a core commitment of the Prime Minister\u2019s to unite the Canadian economy and put more money back in Canadians\u2019 pockets, the feds said in a release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;These will help lower costs, improve mobility between provinces, and drive long-term economic growth for Canadians as we build the strongest economy in the G7,&#8221; the release continued. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Quotes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cCanada\u2019s new government is on a mission to bring down costs and build one, strong Canadian economy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;By cutting tolls on the Confederation Bridge and fares on ferries in Atlantic Canada, Canadians and businesses will save millions of dollars. That means more travel and trade between provinces, a stronger, more united economy, and more prosperity and opportunity for Canadians.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2014 Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>ADVERTISEMENT:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"alignnormal\">[metaslider id=&#8221;56509&#8243;]<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"alignnormal\">[metaslider id=&#8221;56530&#8243;]<\/div>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cInternal trade barriers have held our country back for far too long. They\u2019ve driven up the cost of doing business and created roadblocks for industry expansion nationwide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;To build a strong, dynamic economy, affordable and accessible transportation is key. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cutting fares and tolls will allow people to move around more easily, boosting interprovincial travel and tourism, supporting business growth, and strengthening cultural ties between our provinces and territories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2014 Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Transport and Internal Trade<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cThe Confederation Bridge and a safe and reliable ferry service are more than transportation links \u2013 they\u2019re our connection to the rest of the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;At a time when that has never been more important, our new government is reducing tolls to make life more affordable for Islanders, help get more of our goods to market, and keep our country strong and united.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2014 Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cFishing is central to our coastal economy. The sector sustains tens of thousands of jobs and contributes billions to Canada\u2019s GDP annually. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Cutting fares and tolls on key\u00a0interprovincial transportation routes in Atlantic Canada will support the continued growth of this key industry for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2014 Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>ADVERTISEMENT:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"alignnormal\">[metaslider id=&#8221;56501&#8243;]<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"alignnormal\">[metaslider id=&#8221;56376&#8243;]<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Quick facts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Operated by the Strait Crossing Bridge Limited, the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.confederationbridge.com\/about-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Confederation Bridge<\/a> is a federally owned asset that fulfils Canada\u2019s constitutional obligation to provide a year-round transportation link between Prince Edward Island and the mainland.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Confederation Bridge handles approximately 90-95% of the passenger and commercial traffic to and from Prince Edward Island.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Traffic volumes for the Bridge for 2024 reached 990,198 vehicles. The current toll for a 2-axle vehicle is $50.25.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Under the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/tc.canada.ca\/en\/programs\/ferry-services-contribution-program\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ferry Services Contribution Program<\/a>, the federal government provides financial support to the operators of\u00a0the three Eastern Canada Ferry Services routes \u2013\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ferries.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Northumberland Ferries Ltd.<\/a> (NFL),\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ferries.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bay Ferries Ltd.<\/a>\u00a0(BFL), and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/traversierctma.ca\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Coop\u00e9rative de transports maritime et a\u00e9rien<\/a> (CTMA) \u2013 to ensure service.\u00a0The federal government owns ferry vessels and terminals and leases them to ferry operators.\u00a0The total average annual number of users includes over 531,000 passengers, over 200,000 passenger vehicles, and nearly 20,000 commercial vehicles. The ferries provide service between:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Wood Islands,\u00a0Prince Edward Island, and Caribou, Nova Scotia (NFL).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Saint John, New Brunswick, and Digby, Nova Scotia (BFL).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u00celes-de-la-Madeleine, Qu\u00e9bec, and Souris, Prince Edward Island (CTMA).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marineatlantic.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Marine Atlantic Inc.<\/a> operates Canada\u2019s only constitutionally required ferry service, which connects Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, playing a critical role in the region\u2019s trade and social links.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Nearly 65% of goods that are transported to and from Newfoundland are transported by Marine Atlantic Inc., including 90% of all perishables such as fresh produce, medical oxygen, and propane for home heating.\\<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"alignnormal\">[metaslider id=&#8221;56560&#8243;]<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"alignnormal\">[metaslider id=&#8221;56191&#8243;]<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>PEI: It will cost you less to leave PEI beginning this Friday Aug. 1. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Monday morning in PEI, with the Confederation Bridge in the background, that the federal government would keep its promise to lower bridge tolls. They will be reduced from $50.25 to $20 as of August 1. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":55731,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,957],"tags":[8863,3272,8020,8864,8865,7682,8866,1321,7583,7962,2423],"class_list":["post-57303","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-news","tag-bridge","tag-chrystia-freeland","tag-confederation-bridge","tag-confederationbridge","tag-ferry-services","tag-mark-carney","tag-nds","tag-pei","tag-pm","tag-prime-minister-mark-carney","tag-tolls"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57303","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=57303"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57303\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/55731"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=57303"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=57303"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=57303"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}