Starting August 1, 2025, tolls for personal vehicles on the Confederation Bridge will drop from $50.25 to $20. The new policy also extends relief to commercial vehicles, with ferry tolls in Newfoundland and Labrador and other regions being reduced as well.
These toll cuts are seen as a victory for businesses that have been burdened by high transportation costs for years.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has commended the federal government’s announcement to significantly reduce tolls on the Confederation Bridge and regional ferry routes, marking a critical moment for small businesses and farms in Atlantic Canada.
“This is an important moment for small businesses in Atlantic Canada,” said Frédéric Gionet, CFIB’s Director for the region. “For too long, high tolls on critical transportation links have made it more expensive to do business, move goods, and connect communities. Today’s announcement represents meaningful relief.”
Research by CFIB in Prince Edward Island revealed that 76% of small business owners favored the complete elimination of tolls on the Confederation Bridge. For industries like potatoes, tolls cost over $7 million annually. Furthermore, one-third of small businesses reported that the tolls directly affected their pricing strategies.
“Today’s announcement is a positive step — it’s inclusive, practical, and being implemented quickly,” added Gionet. “It addresses a real barrier for small businesses. We’re hopeful this sets the stage for continued progress on interprovincial trade and access, where considerably more work still needs to be done.”
“We thank Prime Minister Carney and the federal government for listening to small business owners and taking meaningful action,” said Gionet. “This is a strong example of how targeted policy changes can make a real difference.
The CFIB media release recognized the efforts of many others — including former Premier King, Premier Lantz, Senator Percy Downe, and Atlantic MPs.
"It’s encouraging to see momentum on an issue that all major parties recognized as important during the last election.”