Poilievre won't commit to reducing tolls on Confederation Bridge

Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has at least one thing in common with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau neither will commit to reducing the tollto cross the Confederation Bridge between P.E.I. and New Brunswick.

Poilievre was asked the question during a visit to Prince Edward Island on Tuesday.

"I'm not going to make any promises until we go forward with our platform," he said.

The same question is often asked of Trudeau, including in 2017 when he promised to "pass along concerns" to the Island's four MPs, who are all Liberal.

In last week's federal budget, the Trudeau government said it would set aside $14 million to keep bridge tolls at $50.25 for a two-axlevehicle leaving P.E.I. until the end of 2026.

But for years, Islanders have been calling for Ottawa to either eliminate or reduce the toll.

Pierre Poilivere stops on P.E.I., backs up Island's only Conservative candidate

6 months ago

Duration 4:44

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre visited businesses in Borden-Carleton, P.E.I., on Tuesday with Jamie Fox, who's currently the federal party's only nominated candidate. CBC's Wayne Thibodeau spoke with Poilievre during his stop in the province.

In December 2022, Premier Dennis King raised the issue again in a letter to Dominic LeBlanc, Canada's minister of infrastructure and a New Brunswick MP.

The federal government owns the 12.9-kilometre bridge but contracted Strait Crossing to operate it and collect the tolls until at least 2032.

While Poilievre would not commit to reducing the toll, he said it's something he and Jamie Fox, the Conservative candidatefor P.E.I.'s Malpeque riding, "are looking at right now."

He did, however, reiterate his message that eliminating the federal carbon tax would make life more affordable.

"When I axe the carbon tax, the gas and diesel people pay to drive across this bridge or any road in this country will be cheaper," he said.

Poilievre repeated thatmessage during stops at threeBorden-Carletonbusinesses, Atlantic Aqua Farms, MacDougall Steel Erectors and Silliker Glass.

Fox said it's important to have the federal leader in the province to hear first-hand some of the issues facing Island voters.

"I'm very pleased with having Pierre come here today, seeing what a taste of P.E.I. is from our aquaculture industry to our manufacturing and [to] meet with people," he said."I think we've been underestimated."

'Carbon tax election'

Poilievre predicted the next federal election, slated for no later than Oct. 20, 2025, will be the "carbon tax election."

P.E.I. was among seven provinces toaskthe federal government to pause the planned increase in the carbon tax that took effect back on April 1.

The Trudeau government implemented the tax in 2019 as a way to reduce carbon emissions. The government provides rebates to Canadians, and says most people get back more than they pay.

The April 1 increase amounted to about three cents more per litre of gasoline. By 2030, though, the price on carbon would add nearly 40 cents per litre.