Highway tolls unfair to Nova Scotians: CTF
Posted Jan 24, 2017 05:46:31 PM.
Last Updated Jan 24, 2017 05:51:11 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
HALIFAX – The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is questioning the fairness of the provincial government possibly implementing tolls to pay for twinning sections of Nova Scotia highways.
CTF spokesperson Kevin Lacey said the latest phase of the government’s highway twinning feasibility study indicates some of the proposed tolls could be quite high in some parts of the province, with tolls on Highway 103 ranging from possibly $4 to $6 for a one-way trip.
“The reason why these particular routes were picked is because they have a high traffic volume and they are commuter roads,” said Lacey. n’t commuters, but it’s not the same type of road as these ones. These tolls are substantial.”
Lacey said he disagrees with the province’s assessment that Nova Scotia spends more on highways than what is collected in taxes, and added there is also currently no cost-effective apparatus for collecting tolls.
As well, Lacey said it isn’t fair to those who could be forced to pay tolls based on where they live in the province.
“There is an inherent unfairness here,” he said. “Some people would get to drive on paved roads and twinned highways that are not tolled, like the route from Halifax to Truro. But if you have chosen to live on the South Shore, you will suddenly get dinged with a toll. Why is there a double standard?”
Public consultations on tolling twinned highways begin on Monday, Jan. 30 in New Glasgow, with the province expected to compile a summary document at the end of those meetings which will be used before making any final decisions.
