The Doug Ford government will assume responsibility for the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway from Toronto in an agreement aimed at addressing the city’s financial challenges.

This agreement provides Toronto with financial relief of up to $1.2 billion over three years, resolving a $1.5 billion shortfall in the 2024 budget.

The deal involves transferring the maintenance and repair costs of the two major highways to the provincial government, potentially providing a capital relief of $7.6 billion.

Premier Doug Ford has committed not to impose tolls on these two highways. The City of Toronto attempted to implement tolls on these expressways in 2016, but the move was blocked by the then Progressive Conservative government.

The agreement also grants the Ford government the authority to approve the redevelopment of Ontario Place, with the city relinquishing land ownership for the project.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow acknowledges the province’s authority over Ontario Place, stating that the debate will take place at Queen’s Park, not the city level.

The province plans to relocate the Ontario Science Centre to the waterfront as part of the Ontario Place redevelopment, maintaining a commitment to public science programs, with a focus on the community.

The new agreement allocates $330 million over three years to operate the Eglinton Crosstown LRT and Finch West LRT, preventing potential indefinite delays in their operations.

The province commits $750 million for 55 new subway trains for Toronto’s Bloor-Danforth Line, based on appropriate federal support, and provides a one-time $300 million funding for public transportation safety projects.

In exchange for these provisions, Toronto agrees to meet or exceed the province’s housing targets, committing to build over 74,000 homes by 2025, focusing on transit-oriented density and continuing to achieve efficiency in delivering and procuring services.

Toronto residents could face a temporary increase in water and waste collection fees as the city proposes a temporary 3% increase for solid waste management services and Toronto Water services.

Once approved, the temporary rates will take effect from January 1, 2024, until the final budget is reviewed in February.

The proposed increase is considered moderate and aims to maintain essential services while allocating funds for future capital needs.

The city emphasizes that implementing the current temporary increase helps prevent larger increases when the final budget is approved.

Residents will be charged based on the size of their waste bin (ranging from small to XLarge), with a 3% increase, ranging from $8.60 to $16.45 annually.

In addition to the 3% increase, a household with a small bin will have to pay $295.29 per year, an increase of $8.60 compared to before.

A medium-sized bin will cost $358.47 per year, an additional $10.44; a large bin will be priced at $486.86, an extra $14.18; and an XLarge bin will cost $564.71 annually, an additional $16.45.

In addition to household waste collection, the solid waste management service fee also supports the collection and processing of yard waste, organic waste, household hazardous waste, electronic waste, as well as oversized items. The fee also covers city-wide waste collection, community environmental days, street and park litter collection, landfill closure and maintenance, and waste storage facilities.

For water services, city officials state that an average household consuming 230 cubic meters (approximately 230,000 liters) of water per year will have to pay an additional $30 per year, equivalent to about 8 cents per day (with a total cost of $1,039).

Toronto Water also provides safe drinking water for residents, collects and treats wastewater, and manages stormwater.

The executive committee will review the proposed rates on December 5, and the city council will convene from December 13 to December 15 for final approval, with the temporary rates taking effect on the New Year’s Day.