October 13, 2006

TORONTO— The McGuinty government is investing $161 million in the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) in the third year of the province’s successful gas tax program, Transportation Minister Donna Cansfield announced today.

“We are delivering on our commitment to pump a share of the provincial gas tax into public transit, in Toronto,” Cansfield said.  “This year we have increased funding from one-and-a-half to two cents for every litre of gasoline sold in Ontario.”

Last year Toronto received $120 million in gas tax funding. 

“The gas tax is paying off for Toronto because it provides long-term, stable funding, allowing the TTC to plan significant transit improvements at the local level,” said Mike Colle, MPP Eglinton-Lawrence.

The McGuinty government’s gas tax funding program has increased ridership by 23 million passenger trips and expanded and improved transit services in Toronto and municipalities across Ontario.  This is the equivalent of removing 19 million car trips from our roads.

Increased ridership means Ontarians are burning less fuel, breathing cleaner air and reducing traffic congestion.  Transit riders benefit from more convenient and efficient transit systems. 

In 2006/07 the Ontario government is investing more than $313 million in 86 transit systems serving 104 communities across the province.  Funding from the gas tax program is in addition to the government’s other commitments to strengthen Ontario’s public transit.  By 2010, the government will have invested more than $1.6 billion in gas tax funding in public transit.

Through significant infrastructure investments, the McGuinty government is delivering better hospitals, schools, transit systems, borders, roads and bridges -- all necessary for future growth and prosperity.