A day after the revelation that B.C. will charge an additional fee for drivers who don't pay their toll for the Port Mann Bridge immediately, the government is under fire.
Last year, Premier Gordon Campbell promised that the toll for the new bridge would be $3 on opening day.
What he failed to mention is that if you haven't registered in advance with the tolling company, you'll have 48 hours to pay that toll, or be hit with a $2.30 surcharge.
Drivers who spoke with CTV News said they were upset to hear about the surcharge, describing it as unfair and even "disgusting."
"Those motorists who use the Port Mann Bridge have every right to be upset and angry with this government for being misled," NDP critic Harry Bains said.
Transportation Minister Shirley Bond insists that the government did not deliberately mislead the public.
"These principles have been discussed for years, and in fact, I don't think it's a surprise to anyone, and to be clear the document is actually publicly posted on the website," she told CTV News.
The pricing chart is on page 98 of a 101-page document about the bridge, but the government has never spoken about it publicly.
Gary Webster of the Transportation Investment Corporation, which will handle the collection of tolls from the bridge, explained to CTV News how the system will work.
"If you drive over the bridge if you're registered and we know you, it can be tracked to an account, and you can pay the minimum charge which is $2.85," Webster said.
If you're not registered, you'll have until midnight the next day to pay that toll online or by phone. If you don't, you'll get a bill with the with that $2.38 surcharge.
"I think it's absolutely fair and set up in a way that's equitable to everybody," Webster said.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Shannon Paterson
