All comes Downe to fairness

Wouldn’t it be nice to just hop in your vehicle and travel unencumbered from one province to the next? That luxury exists for travel between all other provinces and territories in Canada – except ours.

Leaving P.E.I. involves a $46.50 cost, or $72 (round trip) by ferry.

Many grumble about bridge tolls, but none louder than P.E.I. Senator Percy Downe, who steadfastly continues his crusade to eliminate the Confederation Bridge tolls.

The senator maintains that the Confederation Bridge toll represents an injustice. As he pointed out in a guest opinion piece in this newspaper a few days ago, whether or not you pay a toll on federally-owned bridges in Canada, depends on where you live.

The new Gordie Howe Bridge being built in Windsor, Ont., will have a toll, while the replacement Champlain Bridge in Montreal, Que., will have none. So Downe deduces that, if we are to be treated equally, Prince Edward Islanders and residents of southern Ontario should be able to cross their bridges without paying.

During his recent visit to P.E.I., Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attempted to defend his decision to make the Champlain Bridge free while leaving the Confederation Bridge toll in place, by saying he would not “pit regions against regions.” But as Downe suggests, that’s exactly what he is doing – he’s treating Canadians differently depending on what region they’re in.

On that brief stopover, the P.E.I. premier said he raised the issue of bridge tolls with the PM too. Wade MacLauchlan doesn’t seem nearly as passionate about the bridge tolls as Downe. His statements after the meeting with Trudeau didn’t give any indication how hard MacLauchlan pushed, or even if he pushed at all, for a toll removal.

“I made sure he is aware of that issue and that it’s being discussed in Prince Edward Island and I’m confident that he is aware of that. But that’s his baby,” said MacLauchlan. But there was no commitment from Trudeau that anything would be done about bridge tolls, only an acknowledgement of how vocal Downe has been regarding P.E.I.’s.

Trudeau said he’s listening to the concerns people raise and making decisions “based on what’s in the best interest of regions and the rest of the country.” He may be listening, but whose words is he heeding? He may have heard Percy’s compelling arguments and the premier raising the issue, but is he paying more attention to P.E.I.’s cabinet minister, who is not in favour of removing bridge tolls? Agriculture and Agri-food Minister Lawrence MacAulay has long been a proponent for the Northumberland Ferries service. The service had to operate with just one vessel much of last year when the MV Confederation was out of service. Earlier this week, mechanical problems with the same vessel meant interruptions in traffic and long waits at the Wood Islands ferry terminal again. That prompted some to turn around and head toward the bridge instead. MacAulay believes that removing bridge tolls would spell disaster for his cherished ferry service and lead to job losses for his constituents.

However, MacAulay and Trudeau should be considering how bridge tolls are affecting all Islanders and those who travel here. At the very least, a significant reduction in tolls would be beneficial to all.

One thing’s for certain; the bridge tolls don’t impact Trudeau. When he travels to and from our Island, as he did a couple of weeks ago, it’s usually aboard a plane.