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Press Release – John Jordan, MPP for Lanark – Frontenac – Kingston

The Ontario government is supporting transit in Lanark County with a $520,558 investment from the 2023-24 Gas Tax program. The funding can be used to expand service hours, increase routes, purchase new vehicles and improve accessibility to increase transit ridership.

“This investment is fantastic news for our rural residents that require transportation to medical appointments, day programs, social service appointments and more,” said John Jordan, MPP for Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston. “Under the leadership of Premier Ford, we will continue to invest in local transit to drive economic growth, make travel more convenient and connect people to the things that matter most to them.”

The Ontario government is investing almost $380 million across the province to help 102 municipalities improve local transit through the Gas Tax program. This year’s Gas Tax program includes a one-time additional $3 million to ensure municipalities can continue to support and grow their transit systems.

“Lanark County is extremely grateful to receive over half a million dollars in Provincial Gas Tax this year,” said Stephen Fournier, Warden of Lanark County. “These funds for municipally funded transit will be used for capital and operating of Lanark Transportation Association (LTA) that provides specialized transit throughout Lanark County. Lanark is one of the few counties in Eastern Ontario that qualify for this funding and we are pleased to work closely with the LTA that offers this vital service to our residents.”

The breakdown of funding for the riding of Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston is as follows:

  • Lanark County and Smiths Falls – $520,558

  • Kingston – $3,218,066

“No matter where you live, Ontarians deserve access to fast, reliable and affordable public transit,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “Our government is helping municipalities improve their transit systems now and for decades to come.”

Quick Facts

  • The 2023-24 Gas Tax program will help fund public transit in 102 municipalities serving 140 communities across the province, representing 94 per cent of all Ontarians.

  • Funding for the Gas Tax program is set by the number of litres of gasoline sold in the province during the previous fiscal year.

  • For every litre of provincial gas tax revenue collected in the previous fiscal year, two cents are allocated to the Gas Tax program.

  • Municipal Gas Tax funding allocations are calculated based on total transit ridership (70 per cent of funding) and population (30 per cent of funding), both of which fluctuate from year to year.

  • Funding allocations are capped at a maximum of 75 per cent of a municipality’s transit spending.

  • Municipalities may use the funding for transit operating and/or capital expenditures.