Ontario Investing Over $33 Million in Ottawa Transit
April 9, 2026
Provincial gas tax funding will help support and improve local public transit initiatives
NEWS
OTTAWA – As part of its plan to protect Ontario, the province is investing $33,061,834 to support public transit service in Ottawa. This funding through the 2025-26 Gas Tax program can be used for local public transit initiatives such as expanding service hours, increasing routes, purchasing new vehicles and improving accessibility to increase transit ridership.
“The people of Ottawa deserve access to reliable transit services that get them where they need to go quickly and safely,” said George Darouze, MPP for Carleton. “The funding we’re announcing today is good news for people and transit users in Ottawa as our government continues to protect Ontario by making historic investments in public transit.”
The province is investing nearly $380 million through the 2025-26 Gas Tax program to support public transit in 107 municipalities, helping protect Ontario communities by strengthening transit services across the province. In addition to the Gas Tax program, Ontario also supports municipal transportation projects through the Connecting Links, and Ontario Transit Investment Fund programs.
“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is investing nearly $70 billion in public transit to protect Ontario by building a stronger, more resilient, self-reliant economy,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Ontario’s Minister of Transportation. “Today, we’re ensuring municipalities can continue to deliver safe and reliable transit services for their communities.”
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QUICK FACTS
- Under the Dedicated Funding for Public Transportation Act, 2013, two cents per litre of gasoline tax is dedicated as a permanent funding source for public transit.
- Gas Tax funding can be used towards transit operating and capital costs at the municipalities’ own discretion.
- The Gas Tax funding envelope is determined annually, based on the amount of gasoline sold in the previous year.
- Gas Tax funding is determined through public transit ridership and population growth. The province’s approach provides stable support to all municipalities, including small communities, and helps expand public transit service hours and routes, new vehicles and better transit accessibility.
- Ontario is investing nearly $70 billion in the largest transit expansion in North America, including the largest subway expansion in Canadian history: the Ontario Line subway, the Yonge North Subway Extension, the Scarborough Subway Extension and the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension.
QUOTES
“We are grateful to the Government of Ontario for their continued support and funding of infrastructure in Ottawa. By maintaining the gas tax allocation, the provincial government is providing predictable funding that puts the City of Ottawa in a position to continue investing into much-needed transit infrastructure. I’m also very grateful for the Province’s commitment to upload Ottawa’s LRT – a commitment that promises to be a transformative investment for Ottawa’s taxpayers.”
- Mark Sutcliffe, Mayor of Ottawa
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
MEDIA CONTACT
Office of George Darouze, MPP – Carleton
1128 Mill St. Manotick, ON K4M 1A2
Tel.: 613-838-4425
george.darouze@pc.ola.org