LE3 .A278 2021

2021

Alexander, Cynthia

Acadia University

Bachelor of Arts

Honours

Political Science

Politics

The Confederation Bridge is the only fixed connection between the province of Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) and the rest of Canada. The bridge, which was built to fulfill a constitutional promise of a fixed connection between P.E.I.and mainland Canada, is privately owned by Strait Crossing Bridge Limited (SCBL). The bridge charges a one-way toll of $48.50, which is paid only when leaving the Island. This toll acts as a fiscal boundary that many low-income Island residents cannot afford to overcome, leaving a large percentage of the population without a reliable route to the mainland. In this thesis, I examine how the toll on the Confederation Bridge impacts Islanders’ lives and influences P.E.I.residents’ abilities to access necessary services and essential resources on the mainland. By applying John Rawls’ Theory of Justice, in association with a Capabilities Approach, as adapted by Randal et al.in relation to transportation policy, I demonstrate that the toll on the Confederation Bridge contributes to a form of transportation poverty and social inequality. Through Randal et al.’s adaptation of this theoretical framework, and their use of Social Conversion Factors, I examine the role of public-private partnerships, how they influence infrastructure inequality, and how they reinforce the economic, social, and physical exclusion of low-income citizens. These forms of transportation inequality limit the agency of Islanders and influences the overall wellbeing of Island residents. I draw from a series of interviews I undertook with local politicians and stakeholders in 2020, a qualitative data analysis, and a review of relevant literature to reveal how the toll on the Confederation Bridge hinders Islanders from travelling to and from mainland Canada and accessing the same opportunities and services mainland Canadians. Through an analysis of the economic and social impacts, I establish the clear connection between the bridge toll and the disconnectedness that many Islanders express towards the rest of Canada.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:3558