2026.DM41.2

Background

On March 30th, 2026, Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing introduced Bill 98, Building Homes and Improving Transportation Infrastructure Act, 2026. On April 14, 2026, the legislation passed Second Reading. Schedule 4 of Bill 98 will enact the Fare Alignment and Seamless Transit Act, 2026, which enables the Minister of Transportation to exercise sweeping powers over service and fare policies to further integrate transit in the region.

Bill 98 proposes substantial power to the Minister of Transportation to introduce directives via regulation, impacting the TTC’s authority to make decisions through its Board via the Annual Network Plan, Operating & Capital Budgets, and other plans and strategies. The ability for the TTC to make decisions about service and fares is important to deliver transit services that meet the needs of Torontonians and our city’s goals for transportation, congestion, and climate outcomes.

Source: City of Toronto

Item Description

This item reflects the City’s support for the Toronto Transit Commission's ability to set key guidelines and principles during consultation with the Province of Ontario regarding local transit fares and service policies. This is done to protect local transit service quality and ensure value for money for Toronto taxpayers. It also requests the City Manager to pursue negotiations with the provincial government to restore 50/50 operational funding for local public transportation, which was eliminated in 1998 under Mike Harris, as a condition of any provincial intervention in the City’s ability to set its own fares or mandate any revenue sharing with other transit agencies. 

City Council requested Metrolinx to enhance the One Fare program by immediately aligning GO Transit fares with Toronto Transit Commission fares for rides within the City of Toronto.

Source: City of Toronto

Proposed by

Councillor Jamaal Myers, seconded by Councillor Alejandra Bravo