"Ontario has had no talks to buy back Highway 407, despite repeated musings from the Doug Ford government over the past year about potentially re-acquiring the toll expressway to reduce gridlock in the Greater Toronto Area. A spokesperson for the company that owns the highway north of Toronto says no talks have taken place with the Progressive Conservative government on a buyback. Ford initially mused about a potential purchase of the 407 in the fall of 2024 and raised the idea of the buyback again during the provincial election earlier this year."
""We'll hopefully acquire that," Ford said of the 407 ETR in February. "I'm not saying we are, but hopefully to alleviate the congestion on the 400 series highways." Former PC Premier Mike Harris' government sold the highway for $3.1 billion in 1999 to a consortium of companies for 99 years. The move has been controversial for decades as both the cost of tolls, and congestion around Toronto, have grown. Ford has expressed frustration with the sale, calling it a mistake. While the company has regular discussions with the province, a buyback has not been on the agenda, said Christina Basil, vice-president of communications and government relations for the 407 ETR."
""As part of our regular course of engagement with the Government of Ontario, we continue to explore opportunities to alleviate congestion across the region, though we've not been engaged in any conversations about a buyback," she said in a statement. WATCH | Ontario says it's considering buying back the 407. How would that work? Doug Ford's Progressive Conservative government is reigniting speculation that Ontario could buy back Highway 407. CBC's Lane Harrison has more on what that would mean for drivers. Truck traffic on Highway 407 has been discussed Basil said truck traffic has come up in those discussions, however, and says they account for "millions of trips" taken on the highway every year."
No formal negotiations have taken place between Ontario and the company that owns Highway 407 regarding a government buyback. Doug Ford publicly mused about acquiring the toll expressway in late 2024 and reiterated the idea during the provincial election as a possible way to ease congestion on the 400-series highways. The highway was sold in 1999 for $3.1 billion under a 99-year agreement, a decision criticized as tolls and regional congestion increased. 407 ETR says it maintains regular engagement with the province to explore congestion solutions but has not discussed a buyback. Truck traffic on the 407 accounts for millions of trips annually.
Read at www.cbc.ca
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