The Municipality of the County of Cumberland is formally opposing a plan from the New Brunswick government to put a toll station on the Trans-Canada Highway at Aulac. This protest, announced on March 18, 2026, comes after officials in Amherst, Nova Scotia, raised concerns that the move would hurt local families and businesses who use the road every day.
The proposal was first introduced as part of the 2026-27 New Brunswick budget to help cover a $1.4 billion provincial deficit. If the plan moves forward, out-of-province vehicles would have to pay a fee to use the highway starting in 2028. The New Brunswick government estimates the toll would bring in roughly $10.4 million in revenue each year.
Mayor Rod Gilroy and other local leaders argue that the Aulac crossing is the only land link between Nova Scotia and the rest of Canada. They believe the toll would act as a barrier for people travelling for work, health care, and shopping. The council is worried that these extra costs will make it harder for regional businesses to compete and will make life less affordable for residents in the border area.
MLA Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin and other local representatives are asking the provincial governments to work together on a different solution. They describe the Amherst and Aulac areas as a single connected community that relies on the free flow of traffic. By taking a stand now, the council hopes to stop the project before the toll stations are built.
