Earlier today (December 19), Ontario Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca announced this year’s gas tax funding for 105 municipalities across the province.
The gas tax funding is provided to municipalities so they can make major infrastructure upgrades for public transit, buy additional transit vehicles, add more routes, extend hours of service, implement fare strategies, and improve accessibility.
Seven municipalities in the Kawarthas will receive almost $3 million of the $357.2 million in gas tax funding, with the largest amount ($1.7 million) going to the City of Peterborough.
Toronto is receiving the bulk of the gas tax funding at $182 million, followed by Ottawa with $37 million, Mississauga with $18 million, and York Region with $16 million. Brampton, Hamilton, and Waterloo Region, will each receive around $11 million.
Ontario’s gas tax program currently provides municipalities with two cents per litre of provincial gas tax revenues. This will increase to 2.5 cents per litre in 2019-20, three cents in 2020-21, and four cents in 2021-22.
The gas tax increase does not come from an increase in the price paid at the pump by drivers.
Here is the gas tax funding municipalities in the Kawarthas are receiving in 2017-18:
- Bancroft (Hastings Highlands, Highlands East, Wollaston) receives $93,595
- Cobourg receives $200,264
- Kawartha Lakes receives $675,904
- City of Peterborough receives $1,725,994
- County of Peterborough receives $69,303
- Port Hope receives $163,886
- Trent Hills receives $69,321.
More public transit makes it easier for people to travel to and from work, school and appointments, reduces congestion, and lowers air pollution. One bus takes up to 40 vehicles off the road, and keeps 25 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions out of the atmosphere each year.
