Ontario Government Pumping Gas Taxes Into Northern Transit

Northern communities are on the road to improved transit via the Ontario government’s gas tax program. To make up for reduced gas sales due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s gas tax program includes supplemental funding of $80 million to help ensure municipalities can continue to support their transit systems. The province has announced that North Bay will receive $914,000, Sault Ste. Marie will see over $1.1 million, Timmins will get over $620,000 and Greater Sudbury will receive more than $2.9 million.

“Public transit is a key driver of economic growth in Ontario, helping people get to where they need to go, whether it is to work, school, or run errands,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “As more people return to public transit, our government is providing municipalities with the funding they need to accommodate growing ridership, while ensuring they can continue to deliver safe and reliable transit service for people in their communities.”

Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli adds, “Our government knows that municipal transit systems are essential to the success of our local communities, connecting people and families to jobs, housing and wherever they need to go.”

Funding for the gas tax program is determined by the number of litres of gasoline sold in Ontario during the previous year. Municipalities that support public transit services in their community receive two cents per litre of provincial gas tax revenue collected. The funding can be used to extend service hours, buy transit vehicles, add routes, improve accessibility, or upgrade local infrastructure.

Here are some of the Central and Northern municipalities receiving allotments.