DIEPPE, N.B. — The Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association has continued its offensive on road and marine tolls in the region, a little more than a week after lashing out at a proposal that would reintroduce tolls to New Brunswick highways.

Executive director Peter Nelson reiterating this stance at a board of directors meeting where the group voted to support an initiative to remove tolls from the Saint John Harbour Bridge.

“The APTA continues to support the removal of tolls from all six toll points in Atlantic Canada. We would ask that the affected municipalities, elected provincial and federal representatives meet immediately to discuss this issue. The removal of tolls from the Saint John Harbour Bridge should be the starting point for the removal of all tolls in Atlantic Canada,” Nelson said.

The six toll points identified by the APTA are the Saint John Harbour Bridge (New Brunswick), the Saint John-Digby ferry (New Brunswick and Nova Scotia), the Confederation Bridge (P.E.I.), The Cobequid Pass and Halifax/Dartmouth bridges (Nova Scotia), and the Marine Atlantic ferry (Nova Scotia and Newfoundland).The APTA says that the existing toll points are either located as part of the Trans Canada Highway System or an arterial thereof and should be recognized as a part of the Trans Canada Highway.

“The rising costs of tolls are yet another impediment to regional, national and international trade. It adds transportation costs to our dwindling exports and increases the costs of our imports,” Nelson said. “The toll points are becoming choke points for trade in our region. Atlantic Canadians see no tangible benefits from the present tolling systems throughout our region.

“The time has come to end regressive tolls. Our region needs to reposition itself to emerge out of the present downturn as a place that is conducive to commerce and trade.”