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Ontario Investing $13,772,622 in Waterloo Region Transit

Provincial gas tax funding will help operate and expand local public transit services

April 16, 2025

KITCHENER — The Ontario government is investing $13,772,622 to support public transit in Waterloo Region through the 2024-25 Gas Tax program. This funding can be used to expand service hours, increase routes, purchase new vehicles and improve accessibility to increase transit ridership.

“The Gas Tax program is an exciting investment for Waterloo Region,” said MPP Mike Harris, Kitchener-Conestoga. “Our government continues to provide funding and opportunities for our community to be connected by making it easier for folks in our region to access more employment opportunities, schools, and those individuals who mean the most to them.”

The Ontario government is investing over $380 million in 106 municipalities across Ontario to improve local transit through the Gas Tax program.

“Investments in expanded public transit services are critical as we work to become one-million ready. Waterloo Region is a growing, connected community and this funding helps us build the public transit system that so many rely on every single day,” said Region of Waterloo Chair Karen Redman. “We thank our provincial partners in continuing to work with us to deliver transit and create a system that supports a growing Waterloo Region.”

“No matter where you live, workers and families deserve access to fast, reliable and affordable public transit that connects them to good jobs and housing,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “Our government will continue to work with municipalities in every corner of our province to improve their transit systems so they can provide the services Ontarians depend on for decades to come.”

For 2024-25, municipal Gas Tax allocations have been maintained at 2023-24 levels. In addition to the Gas Tax program, the government supports municipal transportation projects through the Connecting Links program and the Ontario Transit Investment Fund.

QUICK FACTS

  • The 2024-25 Gas Tax program supports public transit systems in 106 municipalities, representing 93 per cent of all Ontarians.
  • The Gas Tax program provides $0.02 per litre of gasoline sold in Ontario to support municipal transit systems.
  • Municipalities may use Gas Tax funding for transit operating and capital costs.

Quotes

“Public transit isn’t just about getting from one place to another—it’s part of what makes a community feel connected and alive. I’m so pleased to see our government investing in the kind of local infrastructure that gives people in Waterloo Region more freedom—to get to work, connect with others, and live life on their own terms.”

Jess Dixon, MPP Kitchener South – Hespeler

“The Ontario government’s $13.7 million investment through the Gas Tax program is great news for transit users in Waterloo Region, especially in growing communities like Cambridge. This funding will help expand routes, improve accessibility, and ensure more reliable service for people getting to work, school, and appointments every day.”

Brian Riddell, MPP Cambridge