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ANDY WALKER: New Brunswick tolls will have an impact

For any government looking to gain some extra cash, taxing out-of-province residents looks like a perfect solution.

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Those impacted may well complain but the fact of the matter is they can’t vote so there is no political cost. P.E.I. was an early adapter to this cash cow, instituting double property taxes for those whose primary residence was somewhere else in the world. We actually achieve the goal through a residential tax credit but that is just semantics. The idea survived a round of court challenges and out-of-province landowners essentially have two choices — pay up or sell.

The latest manifestation of this philosophy has been road tolls. Nova Scotia established a toll to help pay for a new highway in the Cobequid Pass. When the highway opened in 1997, the toll (it currently sits at $4) was charged to all users. However, that changed in 2021. Owners of both passenger and commercial vehicles registered in Nova Scotia can pass through the toll booth free.

According to news release issued by the government of the day, out-of-province users accounted for half of the 7,600 passenger vehicles and 70 per cent of the 2,100 trucks that use the Cobequid Pass on an average day.

Premier Tim Houston left no doubt about the government’s intent. He said the move fulfills an election promise and keeping the toll on out-of-province vehicles will ensure “we keep this important transportation corridor maintained to the highest standard.” It is like inviting someone to dinner and skipping out leaving them with the bill.

Now, New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt wants in on the action. Her government recently announced in its 2026-27 operating budget it plans to set up a toll booth at Aulac — the main entry point coming to the province from P.E.I. or the Cumberland County area of Nova Scotia.

The toll (the amount has yet to be announced) will only apply to out-of-province vehicles. It is set to be in place by 2028, presumably to allow time to put the infrastructure in place. The Holt government is projecting the measure will bring in $10.4 million to be earmarked for road and bridge maintenance.

While most of the early opposition has come from the Amherst/Cumberland County region, make no mistake Islanders will also be directly impacted every time we go across Confederation Bridge.

The financial burden will be eased somewhat by last year’s reduction to the bridge tolls. If we assume, for example, the one-way toll at Aulac is the same as the Cobequid Pass, the bridge toll stays the same, a trip would cost $28 return– still considerably less than the $50.25 we were paying in the early months of 2025.

It hard to know the long-term impact of the tolls on tourism between the provinces. The reality is the $8 return fee in the Cobequid Pass toll is probably not a major factor in budgeting the trip. You are likely more concerned about the rising cost of fuel thanks to Donald Trump’s invasion of Iraq not to mention the rising cost of accommodations and food.

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Even if you don’t travel off the Island, you will still feel the impact. Chris McKee with the Atlantic Provinces Truckers Association estimates approximately 2,500 trucks per day pass through Aulac, many of them coming to or going from P.E.I. The trucking industry will have no choice but to pass the added cost on to its customers, which means consumers will end up paying more for virtually everything that finds its way to a store shelf.

The reality is the toll is almost a certainty. Governments care about voters and they aren’t likely to go out of their way to appease non-residents who can neither help nor hurt them at the polls.

Andy Walker is a P.E.I.-based political commentator and freelance writer. He can be reached by email at andyangelawalker@gmail.com.

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