BC

Commuters in BC's Lower Mainland are getting a break on a controversial bridge toll, but the Liberal minister in charge denies the deep discount is a pre-election goodie to win votes in NDP ridings.

Transportation Minister Mary Polak announced a passenger vehicle toll that was to be $3 will be cut in half for up to a year for the new 10-lane Port Mann Bridge that connects Coquitlam and Surrey.

The $1.50 discount will be offered between the December opening and March, unless commuters register for an auto-pay account to get the reduced toll until all lanes open at the end of 2013.

Polak says commuters shouldn't have to pay the full toll until they get the full time savings, which she estimates could reach up to an hour a day.

The discount comes as the Liberals carefully steer their way towards a May election, with polls showing the NDP ahead in popularity for several months now.

NDP Transportation critic Harry Bains contends the toll cut is based on an attempt to garner votes rather than what's best for the government's bottom line.