The Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) released a new report on September 12th, revealing transit funding inequalities across Ontario.
The report discusses disparities in operational subsidies for local and regional transit across the province, said Stephen Blais, MPP for Orléans and Ontario Liberal critic for Municipal Affairs.
The FAO’s study considered Ontario municipal and provincial transit agencies’ ridership and finances, including their own-source revenues, operating expenses and operating subsidies, and more.
“The report highlights that provincial operating funding for transit in the GTA dwarfs all other regions
of Ontario and is more than five times higher than it is for Ottawa,” said Blais.
According to MPP Blais, it reveals sharp contrasts in per-resident transit subsidies in 2024 and 2025, including:
- The Toronto economic region: $196.49 per resident
- Ottawa: $31.91 per resident
- Stratford – Bruce Peninsula: $11.70 per resident
- London: $15.33 per resident
“Ottawa is being treated like a second-class city by the Ford government,” says Blais. “With less than
one fifth the funding they offer in the GTA, it is clear that Ottawa is being left behind. Why does the
Ford government believe that residents of Ottawa and eastern Ontario are worth so much less than
those who live in and around Toronto?”Stephen Blais, MPP for Orléans and Ontario Liberal critic for Municipal Affairs
While OC Transpo faces a $120 million operating deficit, Ottawa’s mayor is looking at significant tax and fare increases, as well service reductions, explained Blais — adding that it’s clear Ottawa needs more support from the province.
“Residents in Ottawa pay provincial income taxes just like everyone else,” said Blais. “This report
highlights that the taxes we pay here in Ottawa have a dramatic benefit for public transit riders in the
GTA while our local transit agency continues to struggle with the basics.”
But the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario responded to these concerns, underscoring the investments Ontario is making to enhance safety and accessibility of public transit.
Ontario has continued supporting the City of Ottawa, as shown by the ‘New Deal‘ reached earlier this year — which includes an estimated $197 million over three years in provincial operating supports and $346 million over 10 years in provincial capital supports, wrote the ministry.
Additionally, there is annual funding support through the public transit stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, $332.5 million in Safe Restart Agreement funding, and over $1.8 billion in funding to support the LRT project.
“We will continue to make strategic investments in our transportation programs and projects to connect people to jobs, housing, and nearby communities,” said the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario.