Mr Harper is discussing the importance and future of the Canada US relationship

this next episode, well let's get down to it. Basically, we're gonna hear from David eb as we're talking about cleaner energy and the president of BC Hydro, the province's energy company, is stepping down and there's going to be a new president who's going to actually step in, and we're going to hear more about how clean projects and clean energy for the state of British Columbia is actually

going to come about. And during this press conference, David eb was also asked about some some of the projects that are happening to on a federal level that to build a strong Canada and to help Canada be united in a lot.

that so that these tolls can be lowered and so that the fairies ferry bears can so be lowered. Also so the folks in British Columbia we also have ferries,

and that there are no substats. And in fact, when it came time to actually have a new ferry built for BC Ferries, that they actually had to go to an Asian company instead of finding one a shipbuilding company here in Canada to build a ferry to support those needs, in which case also meant that there weren't any subsidies being put forward to help purchase that.

on August first, and what it leads us into. Also, we're going to hear from Stephen Harper as he talks about from from the standpoint of a former prime minister, as you remember he was the Prime minister before Justin Trudeau, and he talks about the importance of having a good relationship with the United States, as he has has talked in in Saskatoon and a Midwestern legislative conference, talking about how it is important to have that good commerce relationship

with our neighbors to the south, which it does.

and ferries and everything that that link Canada together. The more the more linked together Canada is, the easier it is for us to trade among the provinces, but it also easy to get trade back out of the country, so that commerce is easy to deal with, so so yeah,

we're it is a good thing. We're also going to hear from Prince Edward Island as there is a press conference about those tolls and those ferries, and we're going to hear from the Premiere of Prince Edward Island as he is internally grateful for what the federal government is doing to produce funding the helps lower those tolls and those ferry affairs so that they can get Prince Edward Island can actually get commerce in and commuters in and

out of their province because there are people that actually work. They may live in Prince Edward Island, but they may work and say Nova Scotia, New Brunswick or Quebec, so they need they need that access. It's understandable. And it was also a campaign promise to build that sort of infrastructure for the Atlantic region of Canada. So it is a promise made in Prince Edward Island and a promise

kept to Prince Edward Island by Mark Harney. And you are also going to hear of course Christia Freeland as she also is discussing the importance of a strong Atlantic Canada.

and forth easily and affordable. But at the same time, when we look back across at British Columbia, should there not be a subsidy to help people go back and forth from the Gulf Islands to the mainland British Columbia so that there is easily it's easy to move trade, it is easy to move commerce back and forth and people in commuters back and forth across the Gulf area of British Columbia between those islands in British Columbia for the same exact reasons that it's happening on the Atlantic,

should the Pacific get that's exact treatment. And it is a really good question and it would be a good answer from Mark Carney of how he plans to help British Columbia solve some of the problems of committing back and forth. So why don't we go ahead and we're going to start listening. We're going to start off with why we need a good relationship with the United States. In the opinion of the former Prime Minister, Conservative Prime Minister.

Governments by National Midwestern Legislative Conference. As you know, this meeting has become an invaluable way for the leaders of our provinces and our states to learn together, to learn from one another, to develop genuine friendships, and to build lasting and mutual beneficial partnerships. Our two countries and the eleven states and four Canadian provinces in our Midwest Legislative Conference have a special relationship, and this meeting helps to

strengthen it. Ladies and gentlemen, few if any people understand the Canadian US relationship and the importance of it more than my friend, the right Honorable Stephen J.

mark by complex geopolitical, economic, and security challenges. He also is an acclaimed author book on hockey, a business leader, sought after speaker on geopolitical trends and political leadership. Joining mister Harper is another good friend of mine, Victor Thomas,

who will moderate our conversation this morning. Born and raised right here in Saskatchewan, mister Thomas serves as President and CEO of the Canada India Business Council and has long been one of the country's most respected business leaders, particularly in such areas as technology and innovation and international trade and investments. Ladies and gentlemen of the Midwest Legislative Conference, please join me in welcoming the right Honorable Stephen J. Harper and mister Victor Thomas.

I saw you in India. I'm seeing you here and I'm hearing your one year old daughter. I hope I can improve her mood and what I say.

was too tall, maybe too brown. But he then quickly said, you have good neighbors, And I just got a glimpse of so many parts of the world do not have good neighbors. And I just thought of the plight that he experiences. And then I actually got back to our amazing neighbor to the south of US, and how good a neighbor we actually do have when you look at the world, And so I actually wanted you know, you are right, honorable, you're Prime Minister. You got to have

a great working relationship with President Bush, President Obama. Maybe give us some stories or insights to five hundred of your closest friends here.

You usually be reminded that I've always thought one of the great assets of this country is the is our you know, having the United States is our our great you know, really our only neighbor and our critical partner in ally, I think it's been a great asset for this country. I hope that will continue. But look, it's always something we shouldn't we shouldn't take for granted. You asked me about the two presidents. Actually, I just completed a draft of my memoirs. Now. I have to be honest.

All the best stories can't go in, they really can't.

US are aligned on the important global issues. And you know, I was very different people, but I was never in a room a summit where the American president, either one of them, was not one of the best, if not the best, briefed and articulate people in the room. And we did some I thought we did some very good things together. You know, Canada was you know, at the time of President Bush. He was obviously a president focused

on security, especially after nine to eleven. In my time, we were a significant contributor to the mission in Afghanistan, the Multilateral Mission, and unfortunately, as some of you may remember, at one point we had the highest pgapita casualty rate of any allied country there. So it was a you know, it was a difficult but a meaningful contribution that that we made. President Obama came after the global financial crisis,

more focused on the economy. We did a number of great things on you know, with Transpacific partnership negotiations, border negotiations. You know, it was actually a Canadian who under President Obama, it was actually a Canadian commander who led the mission to Libya. And of course we worked with President Obama very closely on the global response to a bull in West Africa, making sure it did not become a global pandemic.

So you know, look, we just had and I always looking I always say this to my Canadian colleagues, and particularly first minute, it's you know, we're always going to have irridance between our countries. But what's really important is, I think whether the United States likes it or not, the United States has a leadership role in the world, and it's really important as a Canadian that before you get to the list of grievances you see, you know, how can we be of assistance in that leadership role.

specific achievement. The real purpose is meeting and being in contact and discussing ongoing issues and having a close working relationship and understanding with your international partners. I mean obviously. You know, there were times like the global financial crisis when President Bush called us all the White House after that, where you know, people were frantically hammering out plans of

action for dealing with that. Most of the time those things are decided beforehand, except you know, some very controversial things which will come up at the meeting at the meeting itself, but I say most of the time, my view of the value of it was really the ongoing working relationship and partnerships.

are creeping in? And then two, is free trade now passe?

In my term of office, we created almost all of Canada's modern trade agreements except us MCA, and look, that has been the basis of post war peace and growing prosperity around the world. Now, I do think some really serious mistakes have been made along the way, and you know, the mistakes along the line of just because you are for liberalized trade, that you know, the assumption that means that any kind of trade deal is a good deal.

And the most infamous I don't mind saying is is really the terms on which the West, the United States and ourselves and other allies, the terms on which we admitted China to the World Trade Organization, which essentially allowed China to conduct in the name of free trade and neo mercantilist trade policy. Their policy has not been about

the mutual benefits of free trade. It's been about accumulating surpluses at the expense of other countries and using those for geostrategic objectives, competitive objectives, and you know, and that you know when when they can sell to us and we can barely sell them to them, Like, that's not a liberalized trade agreement, and it was a big mistake.

And there have been some others. So you know, when President Trump says there's some trade relationships that have to be fixed, some national security considerations have to be brought in, and in particular the China thing, and there's some others. There have to be better reciprocal access. That's that's all true, but you know, should be all under no illusion like

I'm I'm an economist, and I'm actually not. You know, my specialty was fiscal policy and economic history and comprehensive protectionism. You know, the idea of using tariff barriers to raise revenue and relocate, comprehensively re reocate industries like this is a failed economic policy where it has been tried, and so I am worried about that general direction. I don't think everybody's going there though, I don't think this country will ever go there.

And the key to deal making is when when that's really the key to deal making when I hear people say that their idea of a deal is they can get up on a podium and explain how the other guy lost, Like, that's actually not how you make a deal.

I always used to say, and never made a deal with I never made a deal with anybody without first of all, trying to understanding before I got to the bargaining table what the other guy really wanted and needed, and then being able to on the day we announced the deal, political trade whatever, being able to say not just why we won, but why he won to And so I just think that's really that's a really critical lesson that I'm worried is slipping through fingers these days.

And then of course the US ultimately didn't join. And just to be fair because people say, you know, Trump pulled this out, but actually I think the deal was dead when Hillary Clinton, who was the Democratic nominee the successor of Obama, also came out against the deal. So

that kind of killed the United States participation. But to my surprise, what then happened was Prime Minister Abbe, who was the next biggest partner of Japan, he really let it forward and ultimately they you know, basically you know, modified the package for the fact that the United States was no longer in and got it done. That's what they called the cp TPP. So look, I think it's important. It's it's important even if the United States is not

in it. It's important to have a liberalized trade area not dominated by China. This was besides the mutual gains from trade. This was one of the geo strategic objectives of the negotiations. And even without the United States, I think it's important to note that even without the United States, other parties Japan, Australia, Canada, et cetera, ultimately recognized that it was necessary for it to go ahead on that basis.

You know, India is one of the rare countries democratic countries these days that has, whether you like Modi or do not like Modi, a leader who's in a strong political position and moving his country forward in a very clear direction. And that's not that common these days. It's you know, the Indian economy is booming now, it's very uneven,

but overall booming. And I have been saying I was in and I've been saying for twenty years I was a minority twenty years ago, less of a minority now saying that India is the better longer term bet than China, because I just think that over time, democracies create better balance, more inclusive, sustainable growth patterns. That's my view. Nobody thought that twenty years ago. People, I think are starting to come around on that. But it look it's it's it's

a booming place. I say, rare in the world, very difficult still to do business in, but a rule of law environment. And I do think longer term, because it is a democratic nation, it will be. It won't be. It will not be an ally like you know, North American Western Europe, but it will be a more aligned country in the future. What I think is going to be an increasingly difficult world.

But I'll just give you one little flavor, which was when they had the formal I think it was the formal religious ceremony part. And this is the second by the way I went. There was second of three weddings. I was invited the first two. The third one is a small family affair. So I was at the second, which was the biggest one, which is like three or four thousand people, and I'm in this very you know, this kind of VIP area they had for the religious ceremony.

And I don't know Ballywood very well, but I thought a couple of seats over, I thought that's a Balllywood Star. I kind of recognized what was so I took out my phone and I googled Balllywood Stars and then I realized every single one of them was sitting around me, every single one, and Kim Kardik a bunch of other people. So anyway, it was it was quite something it was, it's I'm lowering my daughter's expectations though for any kind of wedding.

probably the most pro American prime minister Canadian history. And I tell people that if a year ago the government had asked me, you know, President Trump's coming in, he's talking about, you know, big challenges on trade, USMCA tariffs, what would you advise, I would have said a year ago, this is a real opportunity for Canada to really deepen its economic and security partnership with the United States. However, when this government did actually ask me a few weeks ago,

my advice, my advice was the opposite. My advice was, yes, you know, on the economy, we've got to kind of get something short term worked out with the Trump administration. But this really is a wake up call for this country to truly diversify its trade export markets. That's why, you know, that's why we did sign the trade deals all around the world Europe, Asia, Pacific, the Americas and there and Canada has been to be blunt. This is, you know, nothing against the US. The reality is independent

of the current disputes. Canada has been to use business term and I'm in the investment business. Now. We have been grossly overweight the United States as a country, and there is no reason for that. Just because we have that geographic proximity does not justify the degree of dependence that we have on a single market, which is sometimes disadvantageous. And the other thing, you know, in terms of security, my advice to the government is, yes, absolutely spend more

on defense. We should been doing it all along. But let's well, we spend a lot more in defense. While the border is a shared responsibility. Let's make sure we spend a lot more on defense so that we can be independently responsible for our own land season guys, independent of the United States. And I'm just going to tell you right now, I know one political role I still have.

I chair the Global Federation of Conservative Parties, and I can tell you that this is the advice every allied capital is getting from everybody like me that they talk to. And this is not ideal, but I just think it's a reality. The cats out of the bag, you can't or toothpases out of the two, whateveryone want to call it, you can't put it back. And I think it's unfortunate.

I think in the long term this will, actually this direction will weaken the free world more than it will more than it will help it, and it will I think ultimately weaken the United States as well. So I think it's unfortunate, but that is the reality of the situation that.

It's absolutely gorgeous. We got the sisters behind us looking after us, and I grew up in the waterfront, so it's wonderful. I love water and I love fish more and welcome to the park. This is Harbor Green Park. It stretches along Coal Harbor looking out over the Broad Inlet, and I just wanted to say, a couple of days ago there were orcas swimming in in the inlet, and they had been here since nineteen twenty, but they came back in twenty fifteen and they've been coming back ever since,

so we're doing something right. So I'm just so happy they're back. This green space is mons sitting amongst the busy streets and towers of Vancouver, but it does capture the commerce and economic pulse of Vancouver and British Columbia. We have both that and the natural environment as well as the diversity of the population, so we're really in a very heavenly spot and it's a perfect place for this announcement about building strong, secure, sustainable and prosperous future

for all British Columbians. I'd like to acknowledge our guests today joining us at this site are there's Indigenous leaderships. Representatives from the First Nations Leadership Council. Unfortunately, my favorite one isn't here. We had a very long drive yesterday so he's still sleepy. We have First Nations Energy and

Mining Council representatives. We have representatives from labor unions, from industry and most importantly from environment and clean energy associations and organizations, and from the Canada Infrastructure Bank, staff and executive from BC Hydro and a number of Vancouver area MLAs.

I see the honorable Carry Young, So thank you very much for being with us today and joining me up here to make this announcement, or of course our very own Premier David eby the audible Adrian Dix, who's the Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions, Chris O'Reilly who's President and CEO of bc i DROME, and Duma Cole Sayers who's the executive director of Clean Energy Association of British Columbia. So it's a pleasure now to invite Premier EB to

the podium with today's important announcement. Thank you, Thanks there, you're going awesome.

the importance of the work that we're doing here. You know, our country is under a direct attack by the United States, specifically by the President of.

country or this tariff. What we have to do, is, British Columbians, what we have to do is Canadians is push ahead and make sure that we're building our economy to stand strong on our own two feet, diversifying our markets.

And the proud thing for British Columbians is, although this is a time of great uncertainty and challenge for major industries in our province and in our country, is that we know that our province is positioned to be the engine of the new economy that we're building here in Canada. And we saw that recently with the Highland Valley Copper announcement, a two point four billion dollar investment in our province by tech nineteen hundred jobs shipping copper to markets in Asia.

here in British Columbia is clean, cheap electricity. It attracts industry, it keeps industry here. And one of the things we know is that projects that are proposing to come to our province need to use more and more electricity than ever before. They want to use clean electricity, and in doing so, they produce the lowest carbon products in the world. And it doesn't matter what it is that's produced. We set records for having very low carbon emissions when projects

are when products are produced here in British Columbia. And so that's one of the reasons why you saw a couple of months ago an announcement much like this. Over on Vancouver Island, we announced a call for power for BC Hydro. Call for power is not a he man standing in front of Castle Gray Skull. This is a that's a gen X reference.

local communities across the province. Very inspiring stuff and delivered at a cost who is forty percent less than the twenty fifteen BC Hydro call for power, So ensuring that we're continuing to provide affordability around hydro, that we're building our economy, representing billions of dollars in private investment in our province, creating jobs, prosperity in remote communities, including in

First Nations. A hugely successful first call. So that is why we're gathered here today as an announcement that we're building on that success of the first announcement that we are building more energy here in British Columbia. Today, I'm announcing a second call for power, an additional five thousand gigawatts of clean energy that we're calling for to be produced here in British Columbia, enough to power five hundred thousand homes as well as major industrial projects across the province.

Is an economic driver in every corner of British Columbia for communities right across this beautiful province of ours. And it's a reflection of two things. One is our commitment to grow our economy to ensure that we're standing strong as British Columbians. We're relying on our advantages and we're supporting growth in the industries in which we're strong.

do it. We're creating energy here. We're supportive of clean energy and we will continue to be so you can join the amazing more than seven hundred medical professionals that have applied to join our health service from the United States, and we welcome you, and you are welcome here. With that, i'd like to turn it over to the Mister of Energy, our next speaker, with more details about today's announcement.

electricity annually large projects. This time there's no maximum project size gap cap as there was in the first Call for Power, and a minimum of twenty five percent equity ownership, with options at higher levels as we saw in the first Call for Power, and incenting additional benefits outside of equity ownership. We will be awarding these electricity purchase agreements in early twenty twenty six, on around March the tenth

we expect projects. It will be an operation from these two calls for power between twenty twenty eight and twenty thirty three. This builds on that call of power. It means more jobs, job creation, thousands of them in the building of projects, job creation in the electricity produced by

these projects, and more ownership opportunities for first nations. Why do we need that because the opportunities in British Columbia, is the Premier has just said, are strong and almost unprecedented, particularly for example in our mining sector, and that will be powered in British Columbia by clean electricity. This is a significant importance. But of course you just have to be here in Metro Vancouver and other communities to know that.

We also have a growing population and other opportunities opportunities from high tech and it AI and LNG opportunities that require more clean electricity. And the good news is the cost of clean electricity is coming down forty five percent lower in our first call for power than in the previous call for power, which tells us that this is the right investment for people and the right investment to do what BC Hydro has always done, which has had

some of the lowest hydro rates in North America. Builds on a broader program that the Premier talked about that we announced in May and have been laying out over the last number of months. A request for expressions of interests of firm power, which support which support other forms of renewable energy that that deadline is September. Requests for expressions of interest on conservation to build on conservation opportunities that save our resources and are in effect by saving

resources inexpensive power investment in energy innovation. In short, we have a plan, a clean energy plan that will fuel BC's economy into the future. This announcement today builds on a plan that is significant for people, that involves involves the private sector, involves first nations. In fact, these calls for power were designed by BC Hydro with First Nations in British Columbia. So this is action action action. There is urgency. See in this moment, urgency because we've seen

in the United States an attack on Canadian sovereignty. We have to become more self sufficient and we have to become stronger. This helps us do that.

over there, Charlotte Meta. We want to welcome her, and it's really an honor for me to introduce Chris O'Reilly for what Well, we still got three more days, still got three more days, but a few more steps to take. But I want to welcome Chris and thank him for all his service to British Columbia and to BC Hydro.

Power today. This is a major step forward in our continued commitment to provide British Columbians with a affordable, reliable and renewable electricity. This initiative supports our thriving economy, it fuels job creation and helps communities across British Columbia to continue to grow and succeed. We're now issuing a request for proposals to acquire up to five thousand gigawatt hours annually from clean and renewable resources, and that's enough electricity to power half a million homes.

energy development. We're also collaborating closely with the Canada Infrastructure Bank. Together, we're opening new financing pathways that enable First Nations and clean energy developers to scale their ambitions, to stimulate local

economies and propel British Columbia towards its climate goals. This call for power also complements BC Hydro's broader efforts to expand energy infrastr structure, to strengthen grid reliability and grow with the communities that we serve, all while advancing sustainability and affordability. As has been said, this is my final media announcement as President and CEO of BC Hydro. Over the past thirty five years, I've had the privilege of serving British Columbians in a variety of role roles in

this outstanding organization. As I approach my retirement, I take great pride in the legacy that we've all built together, from record setting investments in renewable energy to historic collaboration with First nations. We've laid the groundwork for a cleaner, stronger, and more inclusive energy future. To our BC Hydro employees, indigenous partners, our customers, industry collaborators, communities, provincial and local governments.

We've achieved this together. Thank you for your trust, your leadership and your vision. As my colleague Charlotte Meta takes over as president and CEO of PC Hydro on Friday, we'll keep the momentum going and together we'll build an energy future that's clean, inclusive and resilient. Thank you. And now I'd like to welcome Quatuma Cole Sayer's executive director of Clean Energy Association of BC, to the podium.

Thank you to Abstin John Phillips for the wonderful welcome here, and to the Premier and the Minister of Energy for welcoming the Clean Energy Association of Burt's Klumby to speak here today. We're honored to be here on the launch of the twenty twenty five Call for Power. My name is Quatuma col Saaras. I'm the executive director of Clean

Energy Association of British Columbia. The launch to the second Call for Power, along with a clear commitment to future calls every two years, is important and necessary step in building the electricity infrastructure that we need to power our province. These calls in a strong signal to the clean energy sector, to investors and two communities that British Columbia is serious about planning ahead and making the long term commitments required

to meet future demand. At Cleanery BC, we believe that clean power development is most successful when first nations are at the center of the process. When nations lead projects on their territories, working in partnership with industry and supported by meaningful government engagement, the results generate lasting benefits for all British Columbians.

own values and stewardship of their projects. Do collaboration benefits will flow into communities across the province and create lasting prosperity for first nations and local communities in all British Columbians. Cleaning BC plods continue collaboration on clean age of projects as meaningful path forward for reconciliation, energy security, and opportunities that will burnish all that will benefit all British Columbians.

Together with our members, we are committed to advancing projects that create meaningful benefits, support thriving communities, and leave a legacy of clean energy projects for generations to come.

electricity that will help build this province. Clean energy power will forward us into a bright and sustainable future and in collaboration with Indigenous nations, creating jobs, helping a community grow, and driving a strong and clean economy. It's been my privilege to participate in this morning's announcement, so I'd like to thank you any you.

use this. I don't think the view gets much better on Prince Edward Island than what you're staring at today and what we have our backs to.

this point. It's something that Islanders have been asking for for a long time. And I'm not going to take too much time because i think there's more important things

to talk about than me standing up here. But I do want to say, you know, as a relatively new MP, as a new Cabinet minister, working closely with Minister Freeland's office on this and the MPs that represent Prince Ofward Island, and having the leadership of mister Kearney to get this across the finish line force, it's pretty special for all of us. And look, were united across this country, as you all know, Thank you love. Were reunited across this country.

I want to acknowledge and thank Premier Lance for taking the time to be here today and for his leadership, leadership of this province and leadership incoming now leader and chair of the Council of the Federation, incredibly important body. I'm going to say a few words about what Heath was just talking about, bringing the country closer together, and the Council of the Federation group of premiers working.

all Atlantic Canadians, that we would cut the tolls on the Confederation Bridge to twenty dollars and that we would cut the fairs on the Eastern Fairies and Marine Atlantic in half.

an extra day. I'm gonna tell you, I'm going to tell you why they hit Islanders, Newfoundlanders, Nova Scotians, New Brunswickers and Quebecers and Canadians commuting to work or visiting family in friends. They make it more expensive for businesses of all sizes to be Cecazi Canadian San confronte, increse de coud levi ilenousvo govenmounts in Canada, consent so objective de redria, poke Le Canadian Peace, Galde in blue, grande

passi de la gen quizon, dirmentns entrpice piece prosperity. If we're going to build a stronger, more united economy, and we are doing that, we are going to need to make it more affordable to travel around this country for people and for businesses. And that's what we're doing today as of August. For today, Angelona's family are now leaving the island. Canada's new government is reducing the toll for all vehicles on the Confederation Bridge by more than half, from fifty to twenty five.

investment and forge deeper connections. For example, the reductions to the Marine Atlantic fairs in Newfoundland and Labrador alone are expected to bring over twenty eight million dollars into that province's economy and boost out of town, out of province tourism.

the country closer together. Because economies are additive of one another. When we connect regional economies through travel and trade, they're stronger than the sum of their parts. That's what we've been doing with our One Canadian Economy Act, which is eliminating all federal barriers to the movement of goods and people. And I want to thank the Minister Transport is also the Minister of Internal Trade.

Atlantic Canada and with more opportunity and greater prosperity. And that's exactly why we're also focused on building major projects such as new energy and trade corridors that will connect our provincial and territorial economies and create new links between Canada and the rest of the world to build Canada strong nation building product projects that will create high paying careers and turbocharge our industries of the future, from agriculture

close to Heath's heart and my heart, agriculture to artificial intelligence. I'll call finish by observing, and I have to observe on a day like to this. I've been fortunate in so many ways, including being here on Prince Edward Island on a gorgeous summer day. Today's announcement will mean more Canadians can see more of Atlantic Canada and so all Canadians families can have the chance to enjoy our beautiful

country this summer. We've also created the Canada Strong Pass so families can visit our national parks, our museums, are galleries, and our historical sites for free. It allows Canadians to take the Via rail through the Rockies with their kids at a lower cost drive across Confederation Bridge to see Cabinish Beach in Pi National Park where I'm headed.

around in Atlantic Canada. Today's announcement will bring real measurable economic benefits and make life more affordable for businesses and families in this great community and across Atlantic Canada. Commance aconte du premier u en fredri lecu d transport pludn Les du Quebec a don ensembles du Canada Atlantique. This

is a really big deal. The tolls for all vehicles on that great bridge are going to go down to twenty bucks on August first, on Friday, we're cutting the fares by fifty percent for all vehicles on the Eastern Canada ferry services that are federally supported, and we're supporting Marine Atlantic to reduce fares for passengers by fifty percent passengers and passenger vehicles. This is about keeping a campaign promise that the Prime Minister made here with Pi colleagues.

Promise made today, Promise kept. This is about making life affordable for people here on Pei and across Atlantic Canada and Quebec. And as the Prime Minister has just explained, this is about building one Canadian economy. This is about building Canada strong. I do want to offer a shout out specifically to the Pei MPs who are here, Bobby Sean Heath Lawrence also he's still kind of here with us Kent. They have been absolutely tireless in campaigning for this.

I couldn't even say hello to them without hearing about the bridge. It's true they're laughing, but persistence works.

building one Canadian economy. PI has led confederation since we had confederation, and we're counting on you to do that At this time a real national challenge. Nearly sixty five percent of all goods to and from Newfoundland are transported by marine Atlantic. That includes fresh produce, medical supplies, and home heating fuel. Cutting those costs means more reliable supply

chains and lower prices for consumers. AVEC de Free, Redui E Mayer Service, d Vantage, the Canagin at Explore Canada, Atlantique Entris Local Genere de jons de la Croissant's Economic contre in Economy Canagin moder U les marchandis.