Provincial gas tax funding will help support and improve local public transit initiatives
News | April 13, 2026
Chatham-Kent-Leamington — As part of its plan to protect Ontario, the province is investing $1,276,537 to support public transit service in Chatham-Kent-Leamington. 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.
Funding for municipalities in Chatham-Kent-Leamington includes:
- Municipality of Leamington – $299,128
- Municipality of Chatham – $977,409
“People across Chatham-Kent-Leamington deserve access to reliable transit services that get them where they need to go quickly and safely,” said MPP Trevor Jones, Chatham-Kent-Leamington. “The funding we’re announcing today is good news for people and transit users in Chatham-Kent-Leamington 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.”
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 from Municipal Officials:
“Reliable and accessible public transit is essential to keeping Chatham-Kent connected and moving forward. This investment of nearly $1 million through the Gas Tax program will help us enhance service, improve accessibility, and ensure Chatham-Kent residents can get to work, school, and essential services safely and efficiently,” said Darrin Canniff, Mayor of Chatham-Kent. “We appreciate the continued support from the Province of Ontario as we work to strengthen our transit system and support the growth of our community.
The Municipality of Leamington is grateful to the Government of Ontario for its continued support through the Gas Tax program,” said Hilda MacDonald, Mayor of Leamington. “Provincial Gas Tax funding plays a vital role in sustaining local public transit in communities like ours. Without this investment, delivering reliable and accessible transit service for Leamington residents would not be possible. This support helps ensure residents can continue to connect with employment, services, and opportunities across our community.”
Additional Resources
| Media Contact Dakota Brasier Minister’s Office Dakota.Brasier@ontario.ca Julia Caslin Communications Branch MTO.Media@ontario.ca | news.ontario.ca/mto/en Disponible en français |