OTA to meet with minister to discuss tolls

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TORONTO, Ont. — The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) has voiced concerns over a government plan to consider issuing more highway tolls.

The lobby group will meet with Ontario’s new Minister of Transportation, Norm Sterling, to discuss the issue after he indicated he is preparing to meet with road users to discuss the idea of implementing more tolls.

Existing highways, such as Hwy. 403 are most likely to be affected if the government begins charging tolls, according to a feasibility study by the province.

"Road users already pay the Ontario government almost $4 billion a year in vehicle license fees and gas/fuel taxes and have been left out of the decision-making process on tolls for too long," says OTA president David Bradley. "The trucking industry alone pays over $1 billion annually, which covers the entire capital and maintenance budget of the Provincial Highway Improvement Program."

While the OTA is wary about the implementation of new tolls, the association does agree that it may be necessary under certain conditions. For instance, the OTA will consider tolls if the revenue is used to accelerate the construction of specific, new highway infrastructure projects.

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