News and views compiled from around the Atlantic region so you don’t have to!
NEW BRUNSWICK
New Brunswick recalls 22 Lion electric school buses
New Brunswick says it has recalled 22 Lion electric school buses for inspection after one of the company’s buses caught fire during the Sept 9 week in Montreal.
The province’s decision comes after Quebec pulled all its 1,200 Lion buses from the roads for inspection after the fire, which did not cause injuries.
Chuck Chiasson, New Brunswick transportation minister, says his department issued the recall notice on Friday following direction from Lion.
Chiasson says the Anglophone East school district has 11 Lion buses, Anglophone South has 10, and Francophone Sud has one.
He adds that the province is working with school districts to ensure students have transportation while the inspections are carried out.
The Quebec federation of bus operators has said all the buses were expected to be back in service across the province by Sept. 19th.
NOVA SCOTIA
Atlantic Ministers of Transportation Call for Long-Term Infrastructure Funding to Bolster Trade, Economy
NOTE: The following is issued in partnership with the Government of Prince Edward Island, the Government of New Brunswick, and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.
At a meeting of the Atlantic Canadian Ministers responsible for Transportation, Ministers are urging the Government of Canada to establish a new, long-term infrastructure funding program to support critical transportation networks that drive interprovincial and international trade and economic prosperity.
With the conclusion of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program and the New Building Canada Fund, provinces face a significant funding shortfall for roads, highways, and bridges. A replacement funding program is urgently needed to support ambitious nation-building projects and grow interprovincial and international trade.
Climate change, rising road usage, and aging infrastructure are straining transportation systems across the region. Freeze-thaw cycles, flooding, and erosion are increasingly common, leading to costly repairs and disruptions to supply chains. One example that impacts the region is the Chignecto Isthmus Resiliency Project, which is a critical trade corridor for Atlantic Canada and the Nation.
Marine transportation also supports the movement of people and goods essential to Atlantic Canadians and the economy. However, ferries are aging and require extensive repairs or replacement. Additional capacity is required for interprovincial ferry services owned by the Government of Canada and Ministers were encouraged by a recent Request for Proposals by Marine Atlantic for an additional vessel.
Atlantic Canada plays a vital role in connecting Canadian exports to global markets, with goods primarily transported by the region’s highway system to major ports or rail lines. In 2024, Atlantic Canada’s total exports reached $40.3 billion, an increase from the previous year.
While recent federal investments in housing, water, waste management, and transit, and lower Marine Atlantic ferry fares and tolls on the Confederation Bridge, are appreciated, they do not address the pressing need for transportation infrastructure renewal.
“The issue of building and maintaining pieces of transportation infrastructure will always be a significant challenge for provincial governments to tackle on their own. This is why New Brunswick, along with its Atlantic Canadian counterparts, are looking to the Government of Canada to support a revitalization initiative for its regional transportation network. There is a need for federal, long-term provincially allocated funding to address the ongoing rehabilitation of our existing and aging transportation infrastructure. This includes but is not limited to our roads, bridges, and ferries,” said N.B. Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Chuck Chiasson
NEWFOUNDLAND
Summit Provides Opportunity to Discuss Future of Ferry Services for Newfoundland and Labrador
The Honourable Elvis Loveless, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, participated in the Made in Canada: Ferries and Rail Summit held in Hamilton, Ontario, on September 2.
Hosted by the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Transport and Internal Trade, the summit brought together key industry leaders, suppliers, and governments to discuss how, by working together, Canada’s rail and ferry industries can use more Canadian steel and aluminum in construction projects. The forum also presented an opportunity to discuss the future needs of ferry and rail projects, capacity constraints and barriers to building in Canada, as well as actions governments could take to support industry.
The summit’s focus on domestic production helps ensure that investments in critical transportation infrastructure – like ferries and trains – directly benefit the people and businesses that form the backbone of the country’s economy. At a time when these industries are facing intense pressure from tariffs, the summit aimed to foster a more self-sufficient and stronger industrial base at home in Canada.
With four provincial ferries nearing 40 years of age, Newfoundland and Labrador has identified the need for fleet renewal to ensure continued service. The Provincial Government is open to considering a number of options to help sustain the ferry system, including new builds, retrofits, leases and contracts.
In July, the Provincial Government released a request for information (RFI) seeking interest from vendors to provide an additional suitable swing vessel for the province. The RFI, which closes September 5, is seeking market input on available options and potential timelines.
Minister Loveless also discussed this province’s need to explore the benefits and logistical considerations of integrating smaller ferries into the existing transportation network, ensuring improved accessibility and efficiency for communities that rely on ferry services. Incorporating smaller vessels offers several advantages, including cost-effectiveness, reduced environmental impact and the ability to serve less populated routes more effectively.
The summit also provided an opportunity for the minister to discuss the potential for hybrid and electric ferries, as well as the capacity for ferry building within Newfoundland and Labrador.
“This summit was a vital opportunity for Newfoundland and Labrador to ensure our unique transportation needs are part of the national conversation. Ferries are lifelines for many of our smaller towns and communities and investing in Canadian-built vessels would equate into greater reliability, more jobs and more pride in what we can accomplish together. We’re committed to building a stronger, more connected future for our province, and this summit provided a good initial conversation on what that future might look like. I look forward to continued dialogue with ministers, labour and industry,” said Loveless.
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
New roundabout coming for growing community in Stratford
A new roundabout is being constructed at the Glen Stewart Drive and Stratford Road intersection to improve safety and traffic flow in one of PEI’s fastest growing communities.
Preliminary site work will take place on September 11 and 12 with minimal traffic disruptions expected.
Starting September 15, traffic patterns on Stratford Road will be adjusted for safety, and to minimize congestion and improve traffic flow during weekday peak travel periods until construction is completed in November.
From Monday to Friday, commuters are encouraged to plan their route before driving in the area and leave for their destinations earlier. The following traffic patterns will apply:
From 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. – one way northbound/outbound traffic on Stratford Road between Glen Stewart Drive and the Trans-Canada Highway.
- Southbound/inbound traffic can use alternative routes to access the area, such as Lottie Way, Kinlock Road and Georgetown Road.
From 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.-flaggers will be directing single lane stop-and-go traffic in both directions.
From 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. – one way, southbound/inbound traffic on Stratford Road between the Trans-Canada Highway and Glen Stewart Drive.
- Northbound/outbound traffic on Stratford Road can follow posted detour signs.
- The Public Schools Branch will be informing families about pick up, drop off, and bus route changes.
- Public transit will continue using their planned routes.
- Access to local business will continue.
- Pedestrians can follow signage and instructions from traffic control personnel.
- Emergency service vehicles can continue accessing the area and are given priority.