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A Fair Fare for Riders & A Fair Deal for Taxpayers
TTC riders deserve a reliable, affordable transit system – but Toronto taxpayers cannot be expected to shoulder an ever-growing share of the cost. A fair solution means a modest, predictable fare increase, stronger fare enforcement, greater contributions from other levels of government, and better wages so workers can afford the cost of getting to work.
Fair Fare: To Increase or to Freeze TTC Fares
One would expect increases in public transit fares to be in line with increases in the minimum wage rate.
It looks like either fare increases are too high, or the minimum wage is currently too low.
TTC Tickets (~1973) Photo: Stella Kargiannakis
Source: TTC - Key Trends on TTC Expenditures, Revenue and Opportunities for Sustainable Growth, July 10, 2025 backgroundfile-257292.pdf
There has been a sharp increase in Cost Per Ride. Are COVID costs lingering? Perhaps the decrease in ridership combined with higher costs contributed to the high Cost Per Ride which was $6.00 in 2025.
Even if workers went back to the office and ridership rebounded to pre-COVID levels, disruptions in supply chains affecting vehicle parts and fuel prices would likely keep that Cost Per Ride close to $6.00, assuming the riders' distance travelled remained constant.
The fare was $3.30 in 2025 and frozen at $3.30 for 2026.
Currently, the TTC's annual operating budget requires approximately $1.5 Billion in funding from taxpayers.
City Funding increased from 10% of the Operating Budget in 1997 to 43% of the Operating Budget in 2025.
TTC fares have been kept artificially low with an increasingly large subsidy from Toronto taxpayers. If there was a reason for this during COVID, there is no justification for it today. It is neither sustainable nor reasonable.
Meanwhile, the TTC is experiencing very visible, recurring, and bold fare evasion by all kinds of riders, who, in my observations, look like they can afford to pay the fare. Fare evasion is a growing problem which has not been addressed.
Enforcement of payment of fares and fines for fare evasion are important in, at least, ensuring some semblance of fairness. Either everyone pays the fare or nobody pays.
To be fair, riders must pick up a larger share of the cost per ride. Don't expect your neighbour to pay your fare or to subsidise it.
REMINDER:
Those who live outside Toronto and pay property tax to other municipalities also use the TTC.
The subway runs to the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre.
How much money has the TTC received from the City of Vaughan?
All TTC riders above the age of 2 should be required to pay a fare - children, college students, adults, and seniors.
Children that misbehave should pay double fare. Others who misbehave should be removed and denied future access to the TTC.
Those who cannot afford public transit need a job or an increase in their wages - not a taxpayer subsidy.
Toronto Taxpayers Should Not Subsidise Private-Sector Wages
We should not subsidise the transit costs of those living outside Toronto and who use the TTC.
Employers must pay their workers a sufficient wage and provide appropriate wage increases to cover increasing costs of expenditures incurred in getting to work.
TTC adult fare must increase to $3.50 effective Jan 1, 2027 - still a great value.
Toronto taxpayers do not have unlimited resources. Energy costs are increasing. This is the FAIR solution to the TTC fare.
The Ontario Government must raise the minimum wage to $25.20 effective Jan 1, 2027.
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