Lower tolls on the Confederation Bridge and fees on interprovincial ferries are being welcomed by businesses in the Saint John region.
On Monday, the prime minister announced that the Confederation Bridge tolls would be reduced to $20 for all vehicles starting Friday.
At the same time, fees on several ferries throughout the region are being cut in half, including the service between Saint John and Digby.
Shannon Merrifield, CEO of the Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce, described it as a practical and strategic investment by the government.
“Our region is a hub community and we serve cross-provincial traffic every day, so when the cost of moving people and goods goes down, our businesses can reinvest, our workers can access more opportunities, and families can travel more freely,” Merrifield told our newsroom.
“We think it’s a practical economic relief measure that’s gonna help support our regional resilience, which we all know is incredibly important right now.”
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One of the largest benefits Merrifield sees related to the announcement is a boost to tourism throughout the Saint John region and beyond.
Currently, a return trip for a family of four (two adults and two children aged six to 13) on the Saint John-to-Digby ferry costs nearly $600 during peak season.
Merrifield said cutting that price in half will make those spontaneous weekend trips to New Brunswick even more appealing.
“The local tourism operators are gonna see it and they’ll see increased bookings,” she said. “Also, I think it will increase business during our shoulder seasons due to improved affordability.”
The CEO also expects to see increased interprovincial trade among Atlantic Canadian provinces as a result of the lower travel costs.
“I think the local producers are going to find it more affordable to access markets across provinces, while businesses in our region are going to benefit from broader sourcing opportunities and a bigger customer reach,” Merrifield added.
