Saying "we have seen how critical public transit is" during the pandemic, the Ontario government is giving municipalities in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent funding to support those services.
Chatham-Kent, LaSalle, Tecumseh, Leamington, and Windsor's share of Gas Tax revenues is just over $6.2-million.
"Gas Tax funding remains a vital source of long-term transit funding that municipalities can rely on to help operate and expand existing public transit services," said Minister of Transportation Caroline Mulroney.
Windsor, with the largest public transit system, will get most of the investment, over $4.5-million.
The next biggest sum goes to Chatham-Kent, $983,991.
Funding for the Gas Tax program is determined by how many litres of gasoline is sold in each province the previous year. Municipalities that support public transit get two cents per litre of the revenue raised by the gas tax. They can use it to buy new buses, add routes in their community, upgrade infrastructure or extend service hours.
This year, the province allocated $375-million for services in 107 communities.
However, to make up for lower gas sales during the pandemic, Ontario will give them a one-time payment of $120-million.
LaSalle's share of gas tax revenues is $283,859, while Leamington's is $231,587, and Tecumseh can expect $171,226.