Toronto 
Ontario is set to take ownership of two of Toronto’s busiest highways, with the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway scheduled to transfer from the City of Toronto to the province in fall 2027.
The move is part of the Ontario-Toronto New Deal, first announced on November 27, 2023. The agreement is meant to help Toronto improve its long-term financial position while freeing up money for other city priorities.
According to the release, uploading the Gardiner and DVP will remove Toronto’s largest state-of-good-repair liability and unlock about $1.9 billion over the next decade for areas such as transit, housing, city facilities and infrastructure.
Until the transfer is complete, Ontario is providing up to $353 million to Toronto for the operation and maintenance of both highways. The province has also provided $431.4 million since the New Deal was announced, including $73 million to speed up Gardiner repairs.
Those accelerated repairs were completed more than 18 months ahead of schedule. The province says that work saved Ontario’s economy $273 million and is saving the 140,000 drivers who use the Gardiner each day up to 22 minutes per trip.
Premier Doug Ford said the upload is part of Ontario’s plan to address gridlock and keep the highways toll-free. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said returning the regional highways to provincial responsibility will reduce pressure on city taxpayers. Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria said the change will help keep the routes safe, reliable and in good repair.
The province says the Gardiner and DVP are important economic corridors that support trade, GDP and millions of visitors to Toronto each year.
