I’m very happy to talk about transit this morning—a much better subject than talking about hockey.

Speaker, through last summer and into this winter, we introduced Presto’s credit card tap option for riders on the GO network and the 905 with terrific success, and over one million credit card taps have successfully been logged.

I’m happy to say that last Tuesday, our government, under the leadership of this Premier, launched a debit card tap feature on Presto and GO Transit and major local transit agencies in the 905—that includes York region, in that member’s riding. This is game-changing stuff, changing the way that people are able to get from point A to point B and pay their transit fares. With a simple tap of a debit card or a credit card, riders can now take transit and get to work, school, appointments, everything in between—

Interjection.

This is something that the Liberals simply didn’t do. They left behind the commuters of this province. This government won’t do the same. We’re building record transit and making the experience better all along.

The government has a responsibility to keep up with the times. That’s why we can’t limit ourselves to just paying for transit through physical cards. That’s why people on the GO, 905 and UP Express network can now use their credit and debit cards and smart phones or smart devices—with a simple tap of your smart device—to ride transit.

It doesn’t end there, because new Presto devices are also being installed on the TTC to deliver new payment options—like credit, debit and smart pay—to Toronto riders later this year. Progress has been very solid. In fact, I’m glad to update the House that the hardware refresh has been completed on buses and streetcars; the work is ongoing for stations.

Unlike the down bad opposition, this government is getting it done for commuters in Ontario.

Thank you to the member from Ajax for the question and for her endless work on behalf of her constituents.

I’m glad to inform the member that unlike the Liberals, our government is delivering for riders by bringing Presto into the modern era. Our government introduced the credit card tap payment feature on Presto for GO, Brampton, MiWay and Oakville transit riders in August of last year, and it was met with terrific success.

I’m pleased to inform the House that just last month, on January 23, we extended this credit card tap payment feature for riders in York, Burlington, Hamilton and in the member’s own riding of Durham. The credit card tap system is fantastic news for transit riders, because Presto is simply a game-changer when you modernize it. The fact is that eight participating agencies means that 700,000 taps have been used with credit cards on these transit agencies, and achieving this milestone so quickly, Speaker, demonstrates that our government is delivering transit improvements that riders want and enjoy. By improving this Presto system, we’re getting it done for riders.

Our government is now building on our introduction of credit card tap features across the rest of the 905. In fact, Speaker, we are working to implement debit tap card payment capabilities at each of these 905 transit agencies that currently accept the credit card payment feature.

What’s more, Speaker, Metrolinx, on behalf of our government, is working with the TTC to update Presto devices so that both credit and debit payments can be brought to the largest transit agency in our country for Toronto riders.

We’re not going to stop until we connect the whole grid with these payment options so that commuters can conveniently get to work, to school, wherever they need to be. Unlike the opposition, Speaker, our government is turning Presto around and providing a modern fare system that works today and for generations to come.

Thank you to the amazing member from Niagara West, who works tirelessly for his constituents.

He brings up a very good point, because it’s not just about building rapid transit, which this government is doing—$61 billion to expand the grid, a spiderweb of transit; it’s also about making sure that riders have a more convenient experience throughout the GTA—

Interjection: Yes, and doubling the cost of the Ontario Line.

Speaker, the member asked a very valid question about credit card tap. The rest of the world seems to have this ability to tap with your credit card and go onto your transit system. It’s very convenient. It makes life easier, especially when there are lineups at the Presto kiosk.

Since August, 300,000 riders have been able to tap their credit cards on GO, Brampton Transit, MiWay and Oakville Transit, and that’s working—including your smart device, which is important to note, because a lot of people have that ability on their technology. It’s coming to the rest of the GTHA next year, and that includes the great people of 905 and in that member’s riding.

What the member is highlighting here is that it’s about choice. It’s not just about digital; it’s about having the ability to pay by different means and giving the riders of this great province the ability to have that option. That’s exactly what we’re doing.

Again, it’s interesting to hear that the Liberals are still vocal on this issue, because under their watch, they wasted $470 million in cost overruns and millions more on faulty Presto machines. They not only didn’t build transit; when they did, they got it wrong.

Speaker, this government believes in doing things differently. For every dollar we’re investing in our transportation network, $3 is going to invest in transit. This is the only government that’s going to get it done for commuters in this province.

Thank you to the member from Oakville for the question and for his tireless work in advocating for transit in his riding. It is indeed true: The Liberal government left Ontario unprepared for both today’s and tomorrow’s transit needs. Fortunately, this government is making the largest investment in public transit in Canadian history and bettering the rider experience all along.

On August 11 our government began offering riders on GO, Brampton, MiWay and Oakville Transit the ability to pay their fares by tapping their credit cards on Presto readers. I’m glad to let the members know that the technology is working and that commuters are choosing this option. They’ve tapped over 255,000 times using credit cards on these four agencies since we launched in August.

Enabling riders to simply tap with their credit cards is yet another example of how our government is bettering the transit experience, respecting taxpayers’ money and helping people get to where they need to go.

We’re not going to stop until we connect the entire grid with these payment options and better experiences for riders so that they can go more conveniently from work, school or wherever they need to be. When you combine this with our GO affordability pilot, our youth and post-secondary student 40% discount, our elimination of double fares for riders in the 905 connecting to and from GO on their local transit, it’s clear we’re getting the job done. We’re not only delivering record transit investments, we’re delivering a better experience all the way.