Only Doug Ford and the Ontario PCs Will Keep Tolls Off Highways and Fees Off Licence Plates
Families will save hundreds of dollars each year by scrapping licence plate sticker fees and costly highway tolls
DURHAM, May 5, 2022 – Today, Doug Ford confirmed that only the Ontario PCs will keep tolls off Highways 412 and 418 and fees off licence plates to keep costs down for drivers and businesses.
“The Del Duca-Wynne Liberals imposed unfair road tolls on Highways 412 and 418 in Durham Region and increased licence plate sticker fees by nearly 25 per cent, making life more expensive for drivers and businesses,” said Doug Ford. “Andrea Horwarth and the Ontario NDP are out of touch with the real needs of drivers. The Liberals and NDP will bring back tolls and licence plate sticker fees to pay for their unrealistic promises.”
The PC government officially ended the unfair and costly road tolls on Highways 412 and 418 on April 5, 2022. Before their removal, the Del Duca tolls on Highways 412 and 418 were the only north-south tolls in Ontario, unfairly costing drivers and businesses in Durham and surrounding regions.
In April, Ontario also became the only jurisdiction in North America to scrap licence plate sticker fees and the requirement to have a licence plate sticker for passenger vehicles, light-duty trucks, motorcycles and mopeds. Drivers in the province are now saving $120 per year per car (or $60 per year per car in northern Ontario) with eight million vehicle owners having also been refunded fees paid since March 2020.
As a result of these changes, families in Durham Region and across Ontario now have hundreds of dollars back in their pockets, with more savings each year.
“Whether it’s eliminating the cost of renewing your licence plate or getting rid of unfair tolls, only the Ontario PCs are keeping costs down for you and your family,” added Ford. “The other parties will find any way they can to increase costs on hard-working Ontarians. Only the Ontario PCs will get it done by keeping tolls off our roads and fees off your licence plates.”
Doug Ford is the only leader with a real plan:
- Rebuilding Ontario’s economy with good manufacturing jobs, more support for small business and a mining plan that will finally open up the Ring of Fire.
- Working for workers by encouraging apprenticeships and opening up jobs in the skilled trades, allowing colleges to grant three-year degrees and increasing the minimum wage.
- Building highways and infrastructure, including Highway 413, the Bradford Bypass while investing in the 401 East
- Keeping costs down by lowering gas taxes, getting rid of license plate stickers and removing unfair tolls on Highways 412 and 418.
- Plan to stay open by hiring more nurses, doctors and personal support workers, allowing more seniors to stay in their own homes and producing more vaccines and critical supplies like PPE right here in Ontario
Only Doug Ford will Get it Done.
Quotes:
“Removing the tolls on the 412 and 418 enables Durham residents and businesses to move throughout our Region affordably and efficiently,” said Mayor Dave Barton. “Tolls were a significant economic barrier to the growth and success of our Region. On behalf of the businesses and residents who will save money and time using these connector routes, I thank Doug Ford and Peter Bethlenfalvy for listening to our concerns. We appreciate your support for Durham residents and businesses as we focus on economic recovery in these challenging times.”
– Dave Barton
Mayor of Uxbridge
“The removal of tolls on Highway 412 is a great thing for the Town of Whitby and will have a positive impact on our residents’ quality of life by reducing traffic congestion, improving access to the 407 and 401 for commuters, and making it easier to access and do business in our downtowns. This has been an issue we have been passionate about for years and we are pleased to see a toll-free highway that will also help generate economic value in our community by enabling the realization of the full marketability of employment lands located along the 412.”
– Don Mitchell
Mayor, Town of Whitby
“Removing annual licence plate fees and eliminating tolls on Highways 412 and 418 puts real money back into the pockets of Ontario drivers. As the price of gasoline approaches a record $2.00 per litre – drivers deserve relief. With transportation costs making up nearly 20 per cent of the household budget, Ontario new car dealers applaud Doug Ford’s decisive action to reduce the cost of operating the family car.”
– Frank Notte
Director of Government Relations, Trillium Automobile Dealers Association
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Scrapping Tolls and Licence Plate Sticker Fees
Only Doug Ford is cutting costs for drivers by removing unfair fees to renew licence plates and scrapping expensive tolls on Highways 412 and 418.
The Del Duca-Wynne Liberals imposed the costly tolls on Highways 412 and 418.
Del Duca even recognized the fees would be hard on drivers but failed to do anything, making it clear the Liberals had no intention of lifting the unfair tolls on Highways 412 and 418.
Here’s Del Duca and the Ontario Liberals in their own words:
“I know there are concerns in the community. I understand that people do feel that there is a bit of a pocket book pinch generally speaking right now.” (February 1, 2017)
Steven Del Duca was Kathleen Wynne’s Minister of Transportation from 2014 to 2018 when he slapped Ontarians with a 22.45 per cent increase on the cost of licence plate stickers.
Here is the full list of the Del Duca-Wynne unfair price hikes:
| Liberal Licence Plate Sticker Hikes in Southern Ontario 2012 – $82 2013 – $90 (9.76 per cent increase from previous year) 2014 – $98 (8.88 per cent increase from previous year) 2015 – $108 (10.20 per cent increase from previous year) 2016 – $120 (11.11 per cent increase from previous year) | Liberal Licence Plate Sticker Hikes in Northern Ontario 2012 – $41 2013 – $45 (9.76 per cent increase from previous year) 2014 – $49 (8.88 per cent increase from previous year) 2015 – $54 (10.20 per cent increase from previous year) 2016 – $60 (11.11 per cent increase from previous year) |
The NDP will always say ‘no’
Even with costs rising, Andrea Horwath and the NDP will only complain about giving drivers and families relief.
The NDPs voted ‘no’ to removing the costly licence plate stickers and removal of Highways 412 and 418 tolls. (March 3, 2022)