St. John’s (March 28, 2025) - Tony Wakeham, Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party and MHA for Stephenville-Port au Port, continues to advocate for lower Marine Atlantic ferry rates, noting that the provincial Liberals have finally joined his call.

Wakeham noted the Progressive Conservative Premier in PEI secured a commitment from the federal government to reduce ferry rates. Yet after ten years in power, the tired provincial Liberal administration in this province has been caught flat footed.

“It is only now, after multiple stakeholders have spoken out about the harm of high ferry rates, leading to increases on store shelves for consumers, that the provincial Liberals have finally spoken about this issue,” said Wakeham.

Wakeham has been vocal on Marine Atlantic rates, going back to his leadership campaign in 2023. Most recently, Wakeham wrote a letter to Federal Transport Minister Anita Anand on March 5, 2025, demanding immediate action to lower the cost of travel to Newfoundland and Labrador via Marine Atlantic.

“The advocacy of Hospitality NL, the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce, and the trucking industry seems to have woken up the provincial Liberals to the seriousness of the issue."

"Having been embarrassed by the success of the PEI Progressive Conservative Premier on the issue, the provincial Liberals are in damage control mode. Unfortunately tourists, residents, and commercial traffic have been forced to suffer high fees for far too long.”

“A Progressive Conservative government under my leadership will be diligent in its pursuit of lower costs for all of us,” concluded Wakeham.