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As of June 1, the levies, which can be up to $20, will be lifted on the 43-kilometre portion of Highway 407 from Brock Road in Pickering east to Highway 35/115 north of Clarington, which will cost the treasury around $72 million annually.

But tolls that can cost $86 depending on the  will remain on the privately operated 108-kilometre section of Highway 407 from the Queen Elizabeth Way in Burlington to Brock Road.

In Thursday’s budget, Bethlenfalvy will also make permanent a temporary reduction in the gas tax he introduced in 2022 and has extended annually since. The tax will remain at 9 cents a litre, down from 14.7 cents three years ago.

“I know that families and business owners are worried about rising costs, especially as U.S. tariffs threaten to raise the price of everyday essentials,” Ford told reporters in Pickering Tuesday.

“That’s why we’re cutting the gas tax permanently and taking tolls off Highway 407 East, and that’s why we’ll always keep looking for ways to put more money back into the pockets of Ontario families,” he said.

Ford has frequently said it was a “big mistake” for former Tory premier Mike Harris to sign a 99-year lease with a private consortium to operate Highway 407 for $3.1 billion in 1999.

It would cost taxpayers an estimated $35 billion to end that contract.

Bethlenfalvy, noting the average family will save $115 a year in gas taxes with his changes, stressed the government is mindful that people are concerned about their pocketbooks.

“To help Ontarians cope with the high cost of living and the impacts of the economic uncertainty caused by tariffs, we are continuing to take action to ease the pressure and do more to help lower costs for households,” said the treasurer.

Durham Region Chair John Henry said the moves are “great news” for commuters.

“It will ease pressures during a time of reduced affordability by bringing down the cost of living, improving mobility, fighting congestion on our highways and supporting local and provincial economic growth,” said Henry.