Lower ferry rates spark excitement in Digby

CBC

2 days ago

Digby's deputy mayor says the town is thrilled by the federal government's decision to slash fares for passengers and commercial traffic on the ferry between Digby, N.S., and Saint John by 50 per cent.
In an interview with CBC News on Monday, Paul Saulnier said the news spells only good things for tourists, private citizens and Digby's seafood industry.
"I'm hoping it's going to be an increase in the economy, where we're trying to get seafood to market as fast as we can," he said.
The changes will go into effect on Aug. 1. That means the current one-way fare for a regularly sized vehicle will go down to $64 from $128, while the fare for an adult passenger will be reduced to $26.50 from $53. Commercial rates will see a similar reduction.
Saulnier said he was only informed of the news on Monday, but already he's heard from three people who now plan to make a trip to Saint John in the near future.
He said the lower fares will also provide a boost to organizers of the annual Wharf Rat Rally and Digby Scallop Days, which are both set for next month.
Fare reduction 'huge' for truckers
At a news conference held on Prince Edward Island on Monday, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that tolls would go down by over 50 per cent on the Confederation Bridge, and that fares on all federally supported ferry services in Atlantic Canada will go down by 50 per cent beginning on Aug. 1.
Those ferries provide service between:
Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Que., and Souris, P.E.I.
Wood Islands, P.E.I., and Caribou, N.S.
Saint John, N.B., and Digby, N.S.
Dan White, the president of the West Nova Chamber of Commerce, which includes Digby, said the reduction in fares will encourage more people to do business in the area.
"For the truckers this is huge," he told Radio-Canada. "Now the cost goes down, so the cost of seafood goes down, the amount of business we're gonna do goes up."