Ontario Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney announced an investment of more than $365 million by the province to expand and improve local transportation.

"Investing in public transit is part of our plan to get Ontario moving," she said on March 12. "From transit investment in the Greater Golden Horseshoe to adding more service in rural and northern communities, our government is committed to improving transit in every corner of the province."

This year's gas tax program will be shared across 111 municipalities—the most ever. Communities across the province used the funding to upgrade infrastructure, increase accessibility, purchase transit vehicles, add more routes and extend hours of service.

Funding for the program is determined by the number of litres of gasoline sold in the province. Municipal allocations are based on two cents per litre of provincial gas tax revenues. What’s more, the province has made enhancements to the program—such as removing the baseline spending requirement for municipalities and allowing them to submit a digital copy of their municipal by-law—that will make it easier and faster for local governments to access funding.

“The Ontario Public Transit Association is pleased that the Ontario government is continuing to support public transit through the Gas Tax program,” said Ontario Public Transit Association CEO Karen Cameron. “This important investment in public transit will support healthy communities and improve quality of life for people across the province.”

Those municipalities earning the largest shares of the gas tax funding for 2019–20 include:

• Toronto: $181,562,947
• Ottawa: $37,527,270
• Mississauga: $18,316,786
• York Region: $16,266,835
• Brampton: $14,819,911
• Hamilton: $11,428,352
• Waterloo Region: $11,235,267
• London: $10,656,850
• Durham Region: $8,978,279
• Windsor: $4,380,748