Doug Ford government to ban most highway tolls, freeze driver's licence fees and eliminate plate registration

Ontario will eliminate tolls on all provincial highways, including the Don Valley Parkway and Toronto's Gardiner Freeway. Ontario's Transportation Minister, Prabmeet Sarkaria, announced on Thursday the permanent cancellation of driver's license and photo ID fees and renewal of license plates.

Sarkaria told reporters: "Our government knows that many families are in economic distress. The last thing they should pay is an unnecessary fee or toll.” The new law, which is expected to be introduced next week, will not eliminate existing tolls on highways, but will prevent tolls on roads in the future.

Premier Doug Ford has pledged not to impose tolls on either the Don Valley Parkway or the Gardiner Expressway.

Motorists using the 407 Freeway will still be charged, as the tolls are set by a private company.

Thursday's statement comes two years after the Ford administration scrapped tolls on Highways 412 and 418 in County Durham.

In December 2021, regional mayors wrote a letter to the Prime Minister demanding the abolition of tolls, as they were the only provincial highways charging drivers.

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