‘I’ll believe it when I see it’: Islanders frustrated over wait to lower Confederation Bridge tolls

Frustration is growing over a lack of a firm timeline for when the federal government will drop tolls at the Confederation Bridge. Maria Sarrouh has more.

People on Prince Edward Island are eager to see the federal election campaign promise to lower tolls at the Confederation Bridge fulfilled.

Every time a vehicle crosses from P.E.I. to New Brunswick, the driver pays $50 and some change, despite a campaign promise from Prime Minister Mark Carney to cut the toll to $20.

But with no firm timeline to change the cost, frustration is growing.

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” one man told CTV News.

“Not gonna happen, that was just an election promise, in my opinion,” said another.

For some tourists, the toll is a small price to pay to see P.E.I.

“I think, to be honest, it’s fair enough,” said one woman.

“It’s beautiful over here, we’re staying on a little farm, it’s so nice,” said another.

Trailers and commercial trucks pay a higher toll, and it adds up for big businesses on the island and across the East Coast.

“There’s probably 40-to-50 trucks a day for the same company going back and forth; it’s a lot,” said one truck driver.

Nearly one million vehicles cross the Confederation Bridge every year and business leaders say every truckload of supplies drives up the cost of operating on the island. The province’s potato industry is one of the hardest hit, with up to $7 million in toll-related costs.

Small and medium-sized businesses could be more competitive if the tolls are cut, according to the Greater Summerside Chamber of Commerce.

“I think it is really needed at this point. You know, get people looking out there and starting to choose the Atlantic option opposed to the Amazon option,” said Mitch Martin, the chamber’s executive director.

CTV News reached out to the prime minister’s office for comment on his commitment to cutting P.E.I. bridge tolls and ferry prices but didn’t get a response by deadline.

P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz has called the issue a trade barrier and local politicians pushed for the drop to be done by Canada Day. Egmont MP Robert Morrissey was one of them.

“I have every confidence that the prime minister will deliver on the commitment that he made on behalf of us, and I’m in contact with his office on a regular basis. In fact, I spoke to them yesterday,” he said.

Morrissey adds the bridge is federally-owned, but operated by a private group, so lowering the toll means negotiations. He hopes for movement by the end of the summer.

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