Conservatives vow to remove Confederation Bridge tolls, Liberals promise ‘positive’ news : P.E.I. premier

The P.E.I. premier says the Conservative and Liberal parties have pledged to remove tolls from the Confederation Bridge.

Canada’s Conservative Party has vowed to remove the tolls from the Confederation Bridge, which connects Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick.

P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz said he received a letter from Leader Pierre Poilievre Monday morning, confirming his party would remove the tolls.

“My request from day one has been clear: we need tolls on both the Confederation Bridge and Wood Islands Ferry to be eliminated,” said Lantz in a statement on Facebook.

In a news release Monday, the Conservatives said removing the Confederation Bridge tolls would save residents and businesses over $50 every time they travel to the mainland.

The party would spend $50 million to cover the operating costs for the bridge, which is currently paid for with the tolls.

The Conservatives would also conduct a review of federal support for the ferry that runs between Wood Islands, P.E.I. and Caribou, N.S.

“Every one of us that pulls up to the toll booth at Confederation Bridge or at the ferry in Wood Islands grimaces a little bit as we hand over our hard-earned dollars,” said Lantz.

“I’m confident that a review of the ferry service and funding will only reveal what we already know — it’s a critical link for commercial transportation and our tourism industry that’s been chronically underfunded - and that review will result in a clear recommendation to remove the tolls on the Ferry as well.”

The Liberals have not made any public announcements about the Confederation Bridge tolls yet, but Lantz said Friday that he had a “productive day of meetings” with Liberal Leader Mark Carney, Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland and International Trade and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc.

“I have a verbal commitment that Islanders will be receiving positive news on tolls for the Confederation Bridge and the Wood Islands Ferry in the coming days,” said Lantz.

The potential toll removal is welcome news for some Islanders.

“I don’t care what Liberals are doing, what Conservatives are doing, just scrap it. If you’re local from P.E.I. you shouldn’t have to pay $50 to get off of it,” said P.E.I. resident Brodie Howard.

“I think it’s a good idea, but it might be better to lower it or have some exemptions for people who do have to drive off the Island for medical reasons,” said P.E.I. resident Lynn Woodland.

“We don’t go across very much for the reason that it’s expensive to go,” said P.E.I. resident Gary McMurrer.

Lantz said the bridge and ferry tolls put P.E.I. at a competitive disadvantage in an economy that’s dependent on trade, especially “under the threat of tariffs.”

“As a nation, we’ve been talking about trade corridors and critical infrastructure, bringing down inter-provincial trade. This is just logical that this is much more urgent now,” said Lantz.

“I will continue to advocate and ensure the tolls on both the bridge and ferry are eliminated as soon as possible.”

Bridge tolls are collected when motorists leave P.E.I., at the toll plaza at Borden-Carleton. Most passenger vehicles are charged $50.25.

The federal government will own the Confederation Bridge in seven years.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Derek Haggett

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