Stuff like this happens all over Canada. The problem for Atlantic Canada is high taxes, high regulation, and excessive social benefits that have created a moribund economy and society. Ironically, the pandemic and housing crisis are the last hopes for revitalizing the region as some Canadians flee East.

That’s actually $2 LESS than inflation over that same period. Not sure why the eye roll. 🙄

Yea 15 bucks in 19 years....wow out of control inflation....lmfao.

I’m thinking there’s a carbon tax included in the cost to drive over the bridge. Or perhaps it’s cheaper for people to put putt over in an EV

CHamplain bridge was 100 years old and it is the busiest bridge in Canada more than 70 million crossings ... All goods from atlantic and north of USA cross the Champlain bridge to Canada

@@jeanbolduc5818 They are talking about the new Champlain bridge.

This is why we need to teach critical thinking in schools. Medias will twist facts to fit their agenda. And the cost doesn’t expose the usage. Confederation bridge clearly has less traffic than the new Champlain’s bridge. There’s a point where it make sense to make something a 100% government funded project, when it’s a central structure for a province.

Da it was the liberals that sold it

Or you pay the government in taxes. Nothing is free. Economics 101

Lol how about the 260 BILLION from liberals to GC? We could have bought the bridge and made it gold!

Why some people think everything should be free in this country is a good part of the reason we are well over a trillion in debt, sadly it continues to grow by 40 billion plus a year.

You do understand that TRUDEAU has been the PM for over eight years...right

The cost is based on the costs to build and maintain the bridge, not some arbitrary number. You realize this bridge crosses an icebound straight that is pretty much open ocean right?

@@jeffclark5268 Yes, I'm aware of the challenges of building it, in particular extra strong pre built components with icebergs being a consideration. I suspect that those won't require much maintenance since they are an initial cost, so once it's paid off, the tolls should be able to come down. So am I comparing apples and oranges? Possibly, but I still think the prices can come down when the bridge is paid off.

People living there shouldn’t have to pay.

@@arakwar I live here, we’re and island, we used to have to pay for the ferry… WTF is the difference? Socialism hasn’t completely taken over yet.

@@maxxwellbeing9449 In a socialist state you wouldn't be taxed nor have to pay for crossing any bridge. Taxes are anti-socialist. If the economy is owned by everyone, why would there be taxes? I'm not even a socialist, but socialism is the antithesis of taxes.

@@maxxwellbeing9449 We're far from being a socialist country nor is there any strong socialist movement in Canada.

@@TokyoBalletReprise - socialist, you own nothing, and get paid nothing. In Cuba, Engineers and Doctors work for resorts as bartender and get paid more. Cape Breton Island is an Island in Canada, had a causeway built, had tolls for 50 years and now it's free to leave and return. Oh, You have the GST center, taxing the sh*t out of everyone else.

Maybe Champlain bridge should charge $50 like the PEI bridge, that should bring in a significant amount of money.

Why would they? We used to have a ferry…should that have been free, or did we need to pay to maintain it?

Why? The ferry cost money, the bridge costs money. Want to live on an island…it costs money to leave the island. Don’t want to pay…don’t leave the island or don’t live on an island.

@@jeffclark5268 Let’s apply the same to every bridge then. Let’s charge fees to everyone who enters or leave Montreal. Or everyone using a bridge in Ottawa.

Great question! There are two other 'Good Question' podcasts - in Montreal and Saskatchewan. We also have weekly 'This Is' local podcasts in Calgary, Ottawa, Edmonton, and Vancouver Island. You can find them all on CBC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about our new local podcasts here: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/good-question-p-e-i-podcast-1.7097741

Thanks. A privatly run ferry to an island off of Massachusetts- in the U.S- is entirely relevant and comparable to the discussion of PEI (an entire Canadian Province) premier discussing the entire provinces current economy, running the numbers and looking to reduce the bridge toll to $20 for islanders? This isn't a surprise Nantucket. The bridge is on track to be paid off in 7 years and that's based off of pre pandemic traffic numbers. Thanks for your support.

@@hifilofiwifiand once again….who should pay if not the people who live on the island, or more specifically, use the bridge?

These video clips are from 1987 but I get why your giving your opinion like you think you understand: The entire video is extremely facetisious, disingenuous presentation. The Fixed Link was supposed to be Canada's fulfillment to the Province of PEI for joining confederation in lieu of maintaining ferry service ( The link to the mainland). the terrible ferry service that was --intentionally neglected-- poorly maintained by the federal government.., how better to force the issue on locals. presented it as a better alternative and Canada still fulfilling it's prmise to PEI (hense The name: The Fixed Link) and then when they gained just enough approval to start construction in 1993, they made an amendment presenting a technical loop hole, passing the costs onto the generally poor local islanders, once it's all paid for it then belongs to the Federal (not Provincial) Government. Neat how they own it after we pay for it eh. This was for the benefit of the Federal Governement, Contractors and large business. . But despite that we have diligently paid. Idk why this lady made this segment without adding any contextual relevance. It's bs. The contract to pay back the bridge was based on traffic numbers to the island PRIOR to having the link and long overdue to be renegotiated! PEI has paid enough!

Alberta is treated poorly by their own. Conservatives are the one destroying your province.

You mean a country who is well over 1 trillion in debt? A country who continues to add to that debt by 40 billion a year, take in 457 billion spent 497 billion in 2023.

Yet the ROC is always opposed to any investment made in Quebec. Why should the while country pay for a couple of thousands people who choose to live on a remore island? If the province wants to make the toll tax deductible for their citizen they can do it.

How much is the toll to leave Staten island? $7. The ferry is also free so there's that option. SfB is $9. Prince Edward Islanders have no free option and the toll is $50.25. The premier is discussing reducing the toll to $20. There should be more fuss honestly, these are just clips of interviews done in the 80's and 90's.

@@hifilofiwifiso who should pay the other $30? Taxpayers who never visit the island?

You are smart . I always thought money came from a government printer .But found out it came from me, a taxpayer .

There are ferries everywhere is Canada along the Sst Lawrence and we pay for ferries and it is normal ...

@@jeanbolduc5818 I am starting to plan a book on unique and unusual ferries… I would like to hear more…

We all pay ferries across Canada not only in BC ... Ferry is not a bridge

I like rich people....a poor person has never given me a job

The 14b$ in equalization payments is for programs we already have here and we use the exclusion option to opt out of the federal programs and instead receive the money we are due for those program. Ever wondered why they don’t talk that mich about Quebec’s program elsewhere in Canada? That’s because people would realise that the equalization scare is bullshit. I would love to see that program ends though. Stop forcing provi ces to share money with the others. Just give provinces their share if funding from federal programs, and that’s it. If a province can’t be « profitable » on their own why should we keep it in the federation?