Ontario to remove tolls on provincial stretch of 407, make diesel tax cuts permanent
The Ontario government is proposing to permanently cut the provincial fuel tax and to remove tolls from the provincially owned stretch of Hwy. 407 East.
“I know that families and business owners are worried about rising costs, especially as U.S. tariffs threaten to raise the price of everyday essentials,” Premier Doug Ford said in a press release today. “That’s why we’re cutting the gas tax permanently and taking tolls off Highway 407 East, and that’s why we’ll always keep looking for ways to put more money back into the pockets of Ontario families.”
The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) welcomed the announcements.
“The announcement to permanently extend fuel tax relief for the trucking industry is a measure all Ontarians should applaud,” said OTA president and CEO, Stephen Laskowski. “Essentially, every item or product Ontarians have at home, or their places of business, was moved by truck. Fuel is typically the second leading cost behind labor for the trucking industry. This announcement helps fight inflation and assists trucking companies dealing with cash flow challenges during the tariff war with the U.S. The Ontario Trucking Association applauds the Government of Ontario for its leadership and assisting the trucking industry and consumers in these challenging times.”
Other business leaders also applauded the announcement. Julie Kwiecinski, director of provincial affairs with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, said that 88% of Ontario small business owners support the measures.
The changes are included in legislation through the Conservatives’ 2025 Budget, and still need to be passed. The removal of tolls on Hwy. 407 from Brock Road to Hwy. 35/115 would take effect July 1.
Ontario already temporarily cut fuel taxes on diesel by 5.3 cents/liter on July 1, 2022 and has since extended the cuts four times. The latest announcement makes those cuts permanent.
The province is also calling on the feds to completely repeal and eliminate the carbon tax, which was removed in April but remains on the books. Last year, the province passed legislation banning new tolls on provincial highways.
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