Queen’s Park Lobby Day Message: Right-Size Gas Tax for Transit Program
Each year since 2018, the OPTA Board leads a Queen’s Park Lobby Day as part of our annual budget submission process. On December 2nd, OPTA and CUTA members and staff will participate in over 20 meetings with key Ministers, staff and MPPs to deliver our focused message which is aligned with the government’s priorities of affordability and transit safety and security – right-size the Gas Tax For Transit Program.
Members will recall that this year’s Gas Tax allocations were a photocopy of the previous year, largely to avoid the negative impact on smaller and rural municipalities if the funding formula was applied.
The Gas Tax for Transit Program is highly valued by transit agencies because it provides flexible and reliable funding that supports operating and capital needs. However, program funding has not kept pace with growth or inflation and has remained at roughly $380 million per year since 2019.
Click the button above to access our Queen’s Park Lobby Day Leave Behind and Media Advisory. Please circulate this material widely as you advocate locally.
In addition to preparing for our provincial meetings, OPTA has been monitoring the work of our friends and colleagues at CUTA and CUTRIC who have been seeking to understand the impacts of the federal budget on transit funding. It now appears obvious that much of the dedicated $30 Billion Canada Public Transit Fund (CPTF) is being rolled into the new Building Communities Strong Fund (BCSF) where transit infrastructure will now have to compete with other provincial projects. The $500 million a year Baseline Funding remains intact and dedicated, but the MRA stream and the Targeted funding streams are not dedicated to transit within the BCSF.
Click HERE for details of the CUTA federal budget response.
Click HERE for a summary of the CUTRIC Lobby day asks.
Ontario Public Transit Association Advocates for Urgent Transit Funding at Queen’s Park
Toronto (November 27, 2025) – The Ontario Public Transit Association (OPTA) will host an advocacy day at Queen’s Park on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, to call attention to the urgent need for enhanced public transit funding in Ontario. OPTA representatives will meet with provincial leaders to discuss issues affecting transit systems, including operating funding shortfalls, rising service demands, and the need to replace aging infrastructure.
- Who: Ontario Public Transit Association (OPTA) representatives
- What: Lobby Day at Queen’s Park, advocating for fiscal sustainability in transit
- When: Tuesday, December 2, 2025
- Where: Queen’s Park, Toronto, Ontario
Media Opportunities:
- Interviews with OPTA leadership on the state of Ontario’s transit systems and funding challenges, outside of Queen’s Park or virtually in the days after.
- Photo opportunities with transit representatives advocating at Queen’s Park.
- Insights into how enhanced transit funding can benefit Ontarians and support the province’s economic development goals.
Contact:
Jon MacMull
Director of Communications and Public Affairs
macmull@cutaactu.ca
416-684-9808
News release
For immediate release
Ontario’s Transit Agencies Call for Strengthened Provincial Funding to Protect Service, Reliability, and Rider Safety
TORONTO (December 2, 2025) — Delegates from the Ontario Public Transit Association (OPTA) are meeting with Members of Provincial Parliament at Queen’s Park today to discuss the increasingly urgent financial and operational pressures facing municipal transit systems across Ontario.
OPTA expressed appreciation for the Province’s ongoing commitments to transit, including support for capital expansion, the One Fare program, and broader efforts to improve mobility across the province. However, despite this partnership, municipal transit agencies are managing significant challenges that require renewed focus: rising operating costs, aging fleets, incidents of violence and social disorder, and revenue streams that have not kept pace with growing demand.
A key priority raised in meetings was the need to right-size the Gas Tax for Transit Program. The program is one of the most valued tools available to local transit systems because it provides flexible, predictable funding that supports both operating and capital needs. Yet it has remained at roughly $380 million annually since 2019. Restoring its value by increasing the envelope to $725 million would allow agencies to replace aging buses, maintain service levels, and protect affordability for riders.
“Transit systems across Ontario are working hard to meet the needs of rapidly growing communities, and we appreciate the Province’s commitment to strengthening public transit,” said Karen Cameron, CEO of OPTA. “At the same time, many of our members are facing real pressures. We are eager to work collaboratively with government to ensure Ontario’s transit systems remain stable, safe, and reliable for the people who depend on them every day.”
During discussions at Queen’s Park, OPTA emphasized several areas where strengthened provincial support would have the greatest impact:
Enhancing Safety and Security on Transit
Incidents of violence and social disorder threaten rider and worker safety. Increased funding would allow agencies to invest in outreach and enforcement staff, technology solutions, and capital improvements that prevent incidents and support vulnerable individuals.
Supporting Frequent, Reliable Service Under One Fare
The One Fare program has increased affordability and expanded travel opportunities across the GTHA. To sustain the program’s success, agencies need the operational resources required to maintain frequent and reliable service as ridership continues to grow.
Preparing for Federal Funding Uncertainty
Recent adjustments to the Canada Public Transit Fund have introduced uncertainty for municipalities planning major fleet and infrastructure investments. A reinforced provincial role would help stabilize long-term planning and ensure communities can continue delivering service without interruption.
Addressing Operational Gaps
Despite ridership growth, provincial operating contributions have remained flat. This has forced many agencies to raise fares or rely on municipal reserves, approaches that cannot be sustained indefinitely. Stable provincial operating funding is essential to protect service capacity and maintain affordability.
Cameron added: “We recognize the fiscal pressures the Province is managing, and we remain committed to being constructive partners. Our goal is to ensure transit systems have the stability they need to serve Ontario’s growing population and support the government’s objectives around housing, economic development, and environmental stewardship.”
About OPTA
The Ontario Public Transit Association represents Ontario’s public transit systems, health and social service transportation providers, industry suppliers, consultants, and government officials. OPTA advocates for safe, reliable, innovative, and sustainable transit across the province.
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Media contact:
Jon MacMull
Director of Communications and Public Affairs
Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA)
Email: macmull@cutaactu.ca
Phone: 647-215-7555
