My question is for the Associate Minister of Transportation. Across our province, many seniors are currently struggling to stretch their income. The cost of food as well as everyday goods and services keep rising. For seniors with limited income, transit fares add onto the financial burden that they are already experiencing. They should not have to struggle to pay for the things they need in their everyday life. That’s why our government must continue to protect seniors and reduce transit fees.

Speaker, can the minister please tell the House what steps our government is taking to make transit more affordable for seniors in Ontario?

Speaker, the minister also raised an important point: Not only did the previous Liberal government not remove double fares, but both the Liberals and NDP voted against our one-fare program. That is unacceptable.

Unlike the members opposite, our government is putting more money back into people’s pockets, where it belongs.

Can the minister explain how one fare makes life more affordable for the people of Ontario?

My question is for the Associate Minister of Transportation. There are families and individuals in my riding of Newmarket–Aurora who rely on public transit as their main form of travel, but they have told me that they are concerned that steep transit costs are adding further pressure to their household budgets. Commuters are looking to our government for solutions that will make travelling easier and more affordable. We must continue to deliver on our commitment to bring financial relief to transit users.

Speaker, can the minister highlight what our government is doing to keep costs down for commuters across the GTA?

With one fare, it’s all about affordability. Ontarians can use any form of payment now—Presto card, debit card, credit card—hassle-free, Mr. Speaker. Students like them. When they commute, starting yesterday, there is no change in how they tap. There is no change in how they take transit. There’s only one change: They’re going to save money.

Like seniors, like parents, more than 600,000 students across GTHA take and rely on public transit every single day. And this is not just an impact on students. This is an impact on seniors. This is an impact on their parents.

As I mentioned, when I used to take public transit from Kennedy station to Kipling and take the TTC and go to Mississauga, during that time, under the leadership of Liberals, we paid a double fare. Under the leadership of this government, we are paying one fare.

My question is for the Associate Minister of Transportation. I still remember the chilling winter of February 2000, my first winter. I got a part-time job and I had two choices: number one, take Brampton Transit to Westwood mall, take the TTC and pay $5; or walk five kilometres. Mr. Speaker, as a newcomer, I picked five kilometres many times, and I had to struggle to make those tough choices.

Thankfully, we have a government that proudly rolled out our one-fare program so that residents like me don’t have to pick between tough choices or money in their pocket. Speaker, residents in my riding of Mississauga–Malton and across the GTA are thrilled to learn about the savings and the impact this will have on their household budget. You know, Mr. Speaker, for far too long, the transit needs of individuals and families across our province were neglected under the previous Liberal government. In contrast, our government is continuing to make transportation improvements through strategic investments. So Speaker—

Thank you, Associate Minister, for your response and for recognizing the wonderful work this whole caucus is doing and the ministers are doing. It’s great to hear how this government is standing up for public transit riders. When we were elected in 2018, we promised to make life more affordable for the people of Ontario. That’s why we must continue to make historic investments in public transit so that we can put more money back into the commuters, where it belongs.

I know the minister has spoken to the riders across the GTA, including his own community of Scarborough–Rouge Park, about what to expect from the public transit experience. Through you, Mr. Speaker: Can the minister explain what the successful launch of one fare means for the commuters and the whole of Ontario?