The Solutions: Manage growth strategically

We want communities in the Greater Golden Horseshoe to be prosperous and healthy. To achieve this, the government is managing future growth through better use of lands and by maximizing the value of public investments in infrastructure. The five-year infrastructure investment plan supports this co-ordinated and integrated approach by:

• Investing $4.1 billion in transit over five years, including investments to expand GO Transit services; enhancements to the Toronto Transit Commission and York Region rapid transit programs; new transit-supportive high-occupancy-vehicle lanes on provincial highways; an integrated GTA fare card; other municipal transit capital programs; and gas tax transfers for municipal transit.

• Directing a portion of the provincial gas tax will support municipal transit expansion and ridership growth, especially for the larger transit systems in the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

• Investing in improved routes for faster, more efficient transportation of goods to markets, including expansion and renewal of Highway 401 and the QEW throughout the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

• Providing close to $207 million for border improvements in the region.

Communities in the Greater Golden Horseshoe will also see significant capital investments in the five-year plan directed towards hospitals, court facilities and postsecondary institutions.

• Hospitals: funding to start 40 hospital projects in the region over the next five years with construction activity worth approximately $1.6 billion.

• Courts, jails, and other justice facilities: $593 million over five years to streamline and improve the corrections and court system including funding for a new courthouse construction program, a new youth detention and custody centre and forensic facilities.

• Postsecondary education: $52 million over five years to complete university and college expansion projects at Ryerson, York, Brock, Wilfrid Laurier, McMaster universities, University of Guelph and University of Toronto as well as Seneca and Mohawk colleges.

• In partnership with the federal and municipal governments, Ontario is supporting a $1.5 billion multi-year plan to revitalize the Toronto Waterfront.

These are massive investments that begin to respond to the great growth challenges ahead - strategic choices that meet the great needs of today and prepare us for the opportunities of tomorrow.