Latest news with #NorthumberlandFerries
CTV News
27-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
P.E.I. premier asks federal government for timeline on bridge & ferry toll reductions
Traffic travels on the Confederation Bridge across the Abegweit Passage of the Northumberland Strait in Borden-Carleton, P.E.I., Friday, May 3, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese FREDERICTON — The premier of Prince Edward Island is asking Ottawa for an update on the federal plan to reduce tolls on the Confederation Bridge and fares charged by Northumberland Ferries. In a recent letter to federal Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland, Premier Rob Lantz says the fees are trade barriers that boost the cost of living and reduce the competitiveness of Island businesses. He says they also hinder off-Island access to essential services like health care and education. Lantz says his government has done its part to remove interprovincial trade barriers by passing the Interprovincial Trade and Mobility Act. During the recent federal election campaign, the Liberals led by Mark Carney promised to lower the bridge tolls by more than half, and to reduce the cost of certain ferry routes by at least half. A statement from Freeland's office did not say when the federal government would reduce the tolls and fares. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 27, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
27-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
P.E.I. premier asks federal government for timeline on bridge & ferry toll reductions
FREDERICTON - The premier of Prince Edward Island is asking Ottawa for an update on the federal plan to reduce tolls on the Confederation Bridge and fares charged by Northumberland Ferries. In a recent letter to federal Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland, Premier Rob Lantz says the fees are trade barriers that boost the cost of living and reduce the competitiveness of Island businesses. He says they also hinder off-Island access to essential services like health care and education. Lantz says his government has done its part to remove interprovincial trade barriers by passing the Interprovincial Trade and Mobility Act. During the recent federal election campaign, the Liberals led by Mark Carney promised to lower the bridge tolls by more than half, and to reduce the cost of certain ferry routes by at least half. A statement from Freeland's office did not say when the federal government would reduce the tolls and fares. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 27, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
27-05-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
P.E.I. premier asks federal government for timeline on bridge & ferry toll reductions
FREDERICTON – The premier of Prince Edward Island is asking Ottawa for an update on the federal plan to reduce tolls on the Confederation Bridge and fares charged by Northumberland Ferries. In a recent letter to federal Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland, Premier Rob Lantz says the fees are trade barriers that boost the cost of living and reduce the competitiveness of Island businesses. He says they also hinder off-Island access to essential services like health care and education. Lantz says his government has done its part to remove interprovincial trade barriers by passing the Interprovincial Trade and Mobility Act. During the recent federal election campaign, the Liberals led by Mark Carney promised to lower the bridge tolls by more than half, and to reduce the cost of certain ferry routes by at least half. A statement from Freeland's office did not say when the federal government would reduce the tolls and fares. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 27, 2025.
CBC
20-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
P.E.I. politicians call on Ottawa to reduce bridge, ferry tolls by Canada Day
Canada Day would be a good deadline for Prime Minister Mark Carney to deliver on his campaign promise to reduce tolls on the Confederation Bridge and Northumberland Ferries service, says Egmont MP Bobby Morrissey. "July 1 would be an ideal timeline," Morrissey said. "I will push with the government and with the prime minister until we have this in place." Morrissey wrote to Carney last week emphasizing the importance of timing and suggesting that Canada Day would be a "symbolic day for Islanders." It would also be a realistic date, he said. "Remember, we removed the carbon tax within a short period of time, which was much more complex," he said. "So. reducing the toll … would be a very easy thing for government to do." While campaigning in P.E.I. for last month's election, Carney announced that his government would cut Confederation Bridge tolls by more than half and reduce the cost of Northumberland Ferries fares by at least 50 per cent. Bridge tolls are now more than $50. The ferry costs nearly $90. Tolls a trade barrier Carney said in March that he and the premiers agreed to develop a plan to have "free trade by Canada Day" between the provinces and territories. Charlottetown Sen. Percy Downe, who has been advocating for reduced tolls on the bridge and ferry service for over a decade, said the tolls are a trade barrier and must come down. "It increases the cost for businesses and/or consumers to get across the region and to get our products out of the region," Downe said. Lower tolls would reduce costs for Islanders, provide a boost to the province's tourism industry and make it easier for Islanders to travel out of province to access services like medical care, he said. "It's an overall win for the province," Downe said. "It's a win for the people of Prince Edward Island." Calls grow louder P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz said he signed a letter to send to Transportation Minister Chrystia Freeland and expects to speak with Carney about the tolls soon. "I have confidence," he said. "I see no reason why they would back away from the commitment that they made." The Canada Day deadline might be ambitious, Lantz said, but it would be great to make it happen. "It's going to be up to the federal government to figure out the mechanics of making this happen, but I don't see why they couldn't just change the signs at the bridge and reprogram the point of sale systems to make it $20 and then figure the rest out later," he said.
CBC
17-04-2025
- Business
- CBC
Ferry service between P.E.I. and N.S. will be more reliable this season, CEO promises
Officials with Northumberland Ferries Ltd. say they're confident this year's ferry season will be better and more reliable than last year's. The seasonal ferry service that runs between P.E.I. and Nova Scotia is scheduled to begin May 1 and will include MV Northumberland, a vessel Transport Canada bought from Norwegian owners that is being added to the service. It was formerly called MV Fanafjord. "I think the general public is going to be very impressed with that vessel," said Mark Wilson, the president and CEO of Northumberland Ferries. "There is more redundancy on that vessel in case something does happen with an engine or with a thruster. There is the ability to continue to sail safely and reliability." The Northumberland Strait ferry service has been struggling since the Holiday Island was scrapped after a fire in the summer of 2022, leaving only MV Confederation on the run. That ship and MV Saareema, leased from the Quebec ferry service for two seasons, then faced their own share of problems. Ferry firm hopes for a trouble-free season as new vessel added: 'It's darn near close to a new ship' 1 hour ago Duration 2:38 The seasonal ferry service that runs between Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia will start operation on May 1. Northumberland Ferries says it's doing everything it can to move on from the mechanical problems from last season, and promises the service will be more reliable this year. CBC's Wayne Thibodeau reports. The Confederation ran into the wharf at Wood Islands last year, leaving it out of service for four weeks. Having two boats in service this year should ensure a more reliable service, Wilson said, noting that both vessels have gone through pre-season maintenance. 'It's absolutely vital': business leaders For business leaders in eastern P.E.I., improvements to the ferry service's reliability are critical. "We know the travelling public is struggling with the notion of planning on using the ferry, especially from the commercial side," said Blair Aitken, the president of the Eastern P.E.I. Chamber of Commerce. Businesses that have lost confidence in the ferry service have opted instead to use the Confederation Bridge that links western P.E.I. to New Brunswick, Aitken said. "We're hopeful that Northumberland Ferries has plans of some sort to bring back public confidence in their system," he said, noting that a reliable, dependable service would do that over time. Aitken said he's hoping to see a season that begins and runs without maintenance issues, and operates on schedule with a reservation system that serves the public's leisure and commercial needs. "It's absolutely vital. I mean, it's vital to the eastern region, it's extremely important to the Island in general," he said. "The ferry system is highly important to the people of the region, to the businesses of the region on both sides of the strait." Any issues with the service this year will be magnified in the eyes of the public, Aitken warned. Season starts May 1 As the ferry season inches closer, one outstanding issue remains: the new ship is a tight fit into the dock at Wood Islands, NFL's Wilson said. "It fits well into Caribou. It fits OK into Wood Islands," he said. "We need to do some more modifications on the rubber blocks, but it's not a big deal." Transport Canada told CBC News it's working with the ferry operator to ensure the vessels are ready for the start of the season. MV Confederation will begin service for the season on May 1, and MV Northumberland will begin service in mid-June. During peak season, the service will offer eight round trips a day. To welcome it to eastern P.E.I., the Northumberland will be open to the general public on April 26 and 27 as part of Doors Open Down East event. The ship will depart the Wood Islands dock at 3:30 p.m. on April 27 to make its way back across the Northumberland Strait to Nova Scotia, where it has been docked at Pictou.
