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Ferry fares in Îles-de-la-Madeleine and Atlantic Canada to be reduced as of Aug. 1

Ferry fares in Îles-de-la-Madeleine and Atlantic Canada to be reduced as of Aug. 1

Montreal Gazette20 hours ago
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Monday that fares for interprovincial ferries and bridge tolls in eastern Quebec and Atlantic Canada will be cut by at least 50 per cent starting Aug. 1.
Fulfilling a promise the Liberals made during the April election campaign, Carney said the ferry operating between Îles-de-la-Madeleine and Souris, P.E.I. will see fare cuts by half for passengers, vehicles and commercial traffic. Similar fare reductions will apply to all federally supported ferry services across Atlantic Canada.
In addition, the federal government will reduce vehicle tolls on the Confederation Bridge — which links P.E.I. to New Brunswick — from more than $50 to $20.
'Canada's new government is on a mission to bring down costs and build one, strong Canadian economy,' the Prime Minister's Office said Monday in a press release. '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.'
The ferry service between Îles-de-la-Madeleine and Souris is operated by the Coopérative de transport maritime et aérien (CTMA). During peak summer season, a one-way ticket currently costs $59.10 for an adult, plus $110.15 for a car.
The federal government owns ferry vessels and terminals and leases them to ferry operators, according to the press statement. Annually, more than 531,000 passengers, 200,000 passenger vehicles and nearly 20,000 commercial vehicles use federally owned ferry services in Atlantic Canada. In addition to Îles-de-la-Madeleine and Souris, ferries provide service between Wood Islands in P.E.I., Saint John, N.B., and Caribou and Digby, N.S.
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