Latest news with #fares
CBC
a day ago
- Politics
- CBC
Premier demands lower rates for B.C. after Ottawa cuts ferry fares in Eastern Canada
Premier David Eby is calling on Ottawa to increase the federal subsidy for ferry users in B.C. after Prime Minister Mark Carney followed through on an election promise to lower ferry fares in Eastern Canada. But as CBC's Katie DeRosa reports, David Eby says it's yet another example of B.C getting a raw deal from Ottawa.
CBC
a day ago
- Business
- CBC
Digby reacts to ferry price cuts
Digby's deputy mayor says a 50 per cent reduction in fares for the Digby-to-Saint John ferry is a good thing for his community. He spoke with Amy Smith.
CBC
a day ago
- Business
- CBC
Lower ferry rates spark excitement in Digby, Cape Breton
Social Sharing 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 has already 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. 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. 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." Fares from Cape Breton to Newfoundland also going down In Cape Breton, news that passenger and vehicle fares on Marine Atlantic ferries to Newfoundland and Labrador will be cut by 50 per cent was received warmly. "This is positive news for our whole region," said Terry Smith, CEO of Destination Cape Breton. "Anything the government does that will reduce costs for travellers will encourage people to travel more, maybe stay a little bit longer, maybe spend a little bit more." Not everyone, however, is convinced it will lead to many more tourists staying in the area. Gordon MacDonald, Cape Breton Regional Municipality's councillor for District 1, which includes North Sydney where the ferries depart, said that while the news is good for travellers, he's not optimistic it will increase tourism in the area. "I don't think it's going to boost Sydney area's tourism a whole lot. It may boost Newfoundland to some degree, but unless we find a way to keep those tourists locally for a little while, I don't see a great benefit to us," he said. He'd like to see more signage in the vicinity of the ferry terminal to highlight nearby attractions like the Cape Breton Fossil Centre and Sydney Mines Heritage Museum. Daniel Mercer, communications officer with Marine Atlantic, said people who already paid for crossings in August and beyond will receive a partial refund to make up for the cost difference. He said the reduction in fares could save families hundreds of dollars on their crossings. Mercer said summer demand for the ferry service was already high and it will be interesting to see if lower fares increase traffic during the shoulder season, in the fall and spring.
CBC
a day ago
- Business
- CBC
Eby calls for 'fair treatment' for ferry users in B.C. after Ottawa cuts fares in Eastern Canada
Premier David Eby is calling on Ottawa to increase the federal subsidy for ferry users in B.C. after Prime Minster Mark Carney followed through on a promise to lower ferry fares in Eastern Canada. Eby said Monday that the federal government subsidizes ferry users on the East Coast by about $300 per person, while ferry users in B.C. receive $1 per person, and said provinces should receive the same per-capita funding, regardless of the program. The premier said Ottawa must up the federal subsidy for B.C. ferry users, which has not changed for almost two decades. "We're going to need the federal government to have a serious look at their policy in relation to ferry users in British Columbia and ensure fair treatment for ferry users here," Eby said. Effective Aug. 1, fares for passengers, cars and commercial traffic on ferry services in Eastern Canada that are federally supported will go down by 50 per cent. Fares for passengers and vehicles on the ferry that operates between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador are also going down. Ottawa has pledged to increase funding to the operator — Marine Atlantic, a federal Crown corporation — to lower the price by 50 per cent. Ottawa is also freezing commercial freight rates on that route. The lower fares come as B.C. Ferries faces criticism for its decision to hire China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyards to build four new ships, following a five-year procurement process that didn't see any Canadian bidders. Canada's transport minister, Chrystia Freeland, has said she's disappointed with the decision, while the Conservatives, both federally and in B.C., have gone further, saying the deal should be scrapped entirely. The House of Commons transport committee agreed to launch a study into the $1-billion loan B.C. Ferries received from the Canada Infrastructure Bank to finance the purchase of the new electric-diesel ships from the Chinese shipbuilder. Eby has said he would urge the committee to broaden its inquiry to look at how unfairly B.C. users are treated compared with Atlantic ferry users. "So, I would encourage the federal committee to have a look at the differential treatment of the coasts in terms of ferry support. And I think going forward, there is a huge opportunity for us to work with the federal government to ensure that our shipbuilding industry has the opportunity to build these ferries right here in Canada."
CBC
a day ago
- Business
- CBC
Lower ferry rates spark excitement in Digby
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."
