Ford government considering scrapping vehicle licence renewal fees

The provincial government is thinking about doing away with vehicle licence renewal fees in Ontario, a senior government source has confirmed to CBC News.

When asked for official comment Tuesday morning, a spokesperson for Minister of Transportation Caroline Mulroney would only say that the province is "considering a number of options to cut costs for Ontarians."

News of the possible move was first reported by the Toronto Star.

The current licence renewal fee is $120 a year for passenger vehicles in southern Ontario and $60 in the north, and its revenue brings the province around $1 billion annually. Ontario's annual highways maintenance budget is currently $560 million.

The province has allowed people to use expired plate stickers since March2020to avoid having people gather in large groups at Service Ontario locations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Currently, Ontarians are supposed to renew expired plate stickers before Feb. 28.