OTTAWA — An internal federal government memo says the Liberals' decision to ditch plans to install tolls on a major new Montreal bridge will knock about $301 million off the final construction price.
The Liberals pledged a toll-free replacement for the federally owned Champlain Bridge, which is one of Canada's busiest spans.
The $4.23-billion project became a source of controversy in recent years after the previous Conservative government announced the new structure would feature tolls — unlike the existing bridge.
A secret briefing note prepared for Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi ahead of a December meeting with the Privy Council Office and the Prime Minister's Office said the private partner in the project had been told to stop tolling-related work.
Sohi held an event Friday in Montreal to give an update on the Champlain Bridge replacement project, which is scheduled for completion by the end of 2018.
The internal document, obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act, did not say how much revenue could be generated if tolls were installed on the bridge.
