'Burdened with that hurdle': Small businesses call on feds to ditch Confederation Bridge toll
‘Free the Bridge’ campaign against $50.25 toll has been launched by national group
When Joe Sawler started selling to businesses off-Island, he found himself taking short but expensive work trips across the Confederation Bridge.
The owner of JustJoes Automotive in Stratford, P.E.I., said he now finds himself parking in Cape Jourimain, N.B., unloading his truck, and then promptly pulling a U-turn for the return journey back over the 12.9-kilometre bridge.
"For that 30 minutes of time to cost $50 — it's tough," Sawler said.
The routine costs have Sawler throwing his support behind a recent effort from the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses to end the toll on the Confederation Bridge.
On Tuesday, the CFIB launched an awareness campaign dubbed "Free the Bridge," calling on federal officials and 2025 federal election candidates to "seriously consider" removing the $50.25 toll to leave the Island. (That's a round-trip fee; there's no charge for vehicles driving to the Island from New Brunswick.)
"It adds costs to all of our goods," Sawler said. "Whether it's tires or oils or pens or air fresheners — it all gets worked into it."
'Inequities' in federal projects
In a written statement, the CFIB said the new campaign focuses on the "inequity of continued tolls" on the Confederation Bridge compared to other major federal projects, such as the toll-free Samuel de Champlain Bridge in Montreal and Quebec Bridge between Sainte-Foy and Lévis in the Quebec City area.
In a written statement, CFIB senior policy analyst Frédéric Gionet was quoted as saying "Islanders are the only Canadians who must pay a significant toll to access their own province.
This is effectively a tax on everything P.E.I. We're asking federal leaders to end this outdated policy and bring fairness to our transportation infrastructure.- Frédéric Gionet, Canadian Federation of Independent Business
"This is effectively a tax on everything P.E.I.," Gionet said. "We're asking federal leaders to end this outdated policy and bring fairness to our transportation infrastructure."
In an email statement, Transport Canada said its agreement with Strait Crossing Development Inc. to design, finance, build, operate and maintain the Confederation Bridge gives the operator the right to collect tolls until 2032.
Transport Canada also pointed to an ongoing freeze that will keep the toll at 2022 rates until at least December 2026.
P.E.I. Premier Denis King's office said in an email statement that King has raised concerns about bridge and ferry tolls to the Prime Minister on multiple occasions, including an October letter urging an immediate reduction of the tolls to $20.
"The current toll to leave the province places significant strain on Islanders and the local economy," the statement said.
The bridge is the only way for vehicles to cross to and from the mainland when the seasonal ferry between eastern P.E.I. and Nova Scotia is not operating. That Northumberland Ferries service is currently out of commission due to a pair of ferry breakdowns in September, and there is doubt about whether it will resume before December.
Sawler said until anything changes, the toll is a barrier that limits the ability of Island businesses to expand their scope and sell their products in other provinces.
"We are burdened with that hurdle," he said.
With files from Sheehan Desjardins