The idea of putting tolls on New Brunswick highways has resurfaced, as Premier Brian Gallant begins, what he calls, a year of getting the province’s finances in order.
“We're going to have a big year when it comes to getting our finances in order,” says Gallant.
Speaking with the media for the first time in 2015, Gallant sounded a lot like his most immediate predecessors.
David Alward and Shawn Graham also talked about highway tolls, but never put them in place.
Gallant says it is something his government will consider.
“In this year of getting our finances in order, everything is on the table,” says Gallant. “So we'll certainly listen to New Brunswickers, if they think that's one way of increasing revenues for the province and we'll certainly listen to New Brunswickers on the ideas that they have of where we can find savings as well.”
Gallant is not saying what highways could be tolled, or when those tolls could be in place.
Jean Marc Picard, executive director of the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association, says the subject of tolls surfaces with every change in government. While he has yet to see a toll paid, Picard says the cost would ultimately be one borne by consumers.
“Any time that there is an extra line on an invoice, someone will have to pay for it,” says Picard. “Trucking firms already have a lot of fluctuating costs, such as diesel, and so fixed costs would eventually be passed on to their customers and to the consumer, at some point.”
Gallant says tolls will be considered as part of a comprehensive review of government expenditures and revenue sources.
He is hoping New Brunswickers will add their voice to the discussion.
Along with looking for new sources of revenue, the premier acknowledged he’ll be looking for efficiencies.
Gallant says he’d like to think efficiencies could be found without touching program or jobs, but he is not taking that off the table.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Andy Campbell
