Amherst Mayor Rob Small is speaking out against a new plan from the New Brunswick government to charge drivers a toll to use the Trans-Canada Highway at the provincial border in Aulac. The proposal, announced in the March 17, 2026, New Brunswick budget, would require drivers without a New Brunswick licence plate to pay $4 to cross starting in 2028.
Mayor Small said he has not heard a single positive comment about the plan from the community. Because Amherst and the surrounding area share such a closely connected economy with New Brunswick, residents frequently cross the border for work, shopping, dining, and medical appointments. Small stated that the feedback from his residents has been entirely negative.
The Municipality of the County of Cumberland, led by Mayor Rod Gilroy, has formally opposed the toll, noting it creates a barrier for everyday travel that could harm regional affordability. Local representative Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin is also actively lobbying against the measure and is seeking exemptions for local residents who have long-standing family and economic ties across the provincial boundary.
The Aulac crossing is the only land link between Nova Scotia and the rest of the country. According to industry estimates, the corridor is used by approximately 2,500 commercial trucks every day. The Atlantic Chamber of Commerce warned in a recent letter that the toll acts as a barrier to free movement, raising costs and discouraging investment in a way that conflicts with national efforts to remove internal trade barriers.
New Brunswick Finance Minister René Legacy said the tolls are expected to generate $10.4 million annually, which will be directed toward road and bridge maintenance. Despite the pushback, New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt has confirmed the government will move forward with the plan, stating that the province is simply following the lead of its neighbours in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
For some residents, the impact is personal. Alex Poplar, an 18-year-old student from River Hebert who attends classes in New Brunswick, said the toll feels like a betrayal and that many students might stop crossing the border if the fees are implemented.
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston has publicly criticized the decision, describing the toll as an unfortunate tariff on Nova Scotians who rely on this highway to access the rest of Canada.
