Ontario Investing $2,205,325 in Thunder Bay – Atikokan Transit
Provincial gas tax funding will help operate and expand local public transit services
April 15th, 2025
Thunder Bay – Atikokan — The Ontario government is investing $2,205,325 to support public transit in Thunder Bay- Atikokan 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.
“This funding is great news for people in our community,” said The Hon. Kevin Holland, MPP for Thunder Bay – Atikokan. “Under the leadership of Premier Ford, we are investing in local transit to give people in Thunder Bay – Atikokan more ways to connect with work, school and the people and places that matter 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.
“We’re grateful to the province for this important investment in public transit,” said Ken Boshcoff, Mayor for the City of Thunder Bay. “Reliable, accessible transit is key to building a more connected and vibrant city. These funds will help support our growing community, expand access to opportunity, and make Thunder Bay a more attractive place to live, work, and invest.”
“This continued investment from the province supports small communities like Atikokan in delivering important transportation services.” said Rob Ferguson, Mayor for the Town of Atikokan. “Through our partnership with Riverside Health Care, we are proud to offer accessible options for seniors and those with limited mobility. We are grateful to the province for recognizing the unique needs of rural transit.”
The breakdown of funding for Thunder Bay – Atikokan is as follows:
- City of Thunder Bay – $2,181,141
- Town of Atikokan – $24,184
“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.