TORONTO, (March 11, 2004) — After spending the first five months in office fighting a private toll highway, Premier Dalton McGuinty unveiled his new plan to battle road congestion last night: More tolls.

Speaking at a fundraising dinner in Toronto, Dalton McGuinty said his first priority in curbing traffic congestion in Toronto is to increase support of public transit, the Toronto Star reported. Beyond that, McGuinty said individuals and businesses would have to share the load of helping out the cash-strapped province — namely in the form of tolls on any new highways, as well as higher water and electricity costs.

Later, the Premier confirmed that, with some exceptions aside, road users will need to dish out for new road construction. Once again, he was quick to remind the audience that the province’s current fiscal position is a result of the $5.6 billion deficit he inherited from the previous Tory government.

McGuinty said tolls for any new provincial roadway would be regulated, and road users would not see the high rate increases of the private 407 Highway. He also pledged tolls would be eliminated once new highways have been paid for.

The Ontario Trucking Association’s president David Bradley weighed-in by calling on McGuinty to enact a “Toll-Road Users Protection Act,” if indeed the government continues forward with its toll plans.

Bradley said the principles in such legislation should include an assurance tolls would be imposed only on new highway projects, or to pay the costs of construction not ongoing maintenance.

Moreover, viable non-tolled alternate routes must exist for all road users. Also, in order to avoid double taxation, and road users should receive fuel tax refunds for the miles driven on toll roads.

Finally, Bradley adds, no road or highway should be tolled without an economic impact analysis. Also, the government must give consideration to the needs of highway users, not just the concerns of government officials, highway builders and financiers.

Earlier this year, 407 International — a private consortium that bought the 108-km highway from the Conservative government in 1999 for $3.1 billion — — put into effect a planned toll hike despite an election promise by McGuinty to stop it.

Both the highway group and several legal experts have claimed that, based on the original contract, 407 has the sole authority to set rates without authorization and approval from government. Both parties have been involved in a lengthy dispute resolution process since early February.

— with files from the Toronto Star