The mayor of Fort Nelson, is raising alarms about the potential impact of a proposed toll on commercial trucks traveling through the province to Alaska. Rob Fraser, mayor of the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, warns that such a toll could be the “last nail in the coffin” for the town’s already struggling economy, which heavily relies on travelers using the Alaska Highway.
The toll proposal is part of Bill 7, the Economic Stabilization (Tariff Response) Act, introduced by the B.C. government in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats. While Premier David Eby has stated that the tolls are not imminent, the possibility of such a move has local business owners and residents deeply concerned.
Fort Nelson, located at Mile 300 of the Alaska Highway, relies on U.S. tourists and commercial traffic for a significant portion of its economy. The town, once driven by forestry and petroleum, now sees tourism as its economic lifeline. Mayor Fraser fears that even a small drop in traffic could devastate local businesses, already impacted by COVID-19 and wildfires.
Fraser has voiced his concerns to the government, but the uncertainty surrounding the tolls continues to loom over the community.
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