Tolls, trolls and deals, oh my!

And staff moves at PO, Finance, Housing

PROGRAMMING NOTE: Queen’s Park Observer is taking off for the Family Day long weekend. We’ll be back in your inbox bright and early on Tuesday, February 20. Enjoy the calm before the spring-session storm.

Presented by the Ontario Professional Planners Institute

ABOVE THE FOLD

TOLLS — Premier DOUG FORD continues his streak of motorist-friendly policies.

The latest: Transportation Minister PRABMEET SARKARIA will soon ban future road tolls, including on Toronto’s re-uploaded Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway (or “Parking Lot” as the Premier calls it). The exception would be the 407 — the most expensive tolled route — because it’s partially a “private entity,” Sarkaria said (but the province still runs a 43-kilometre stretch).

Duh: Tolls have long been denounced by Ford, but this new legislation — which will be tabled next Tuesday in the omnibus Get It Done Act — would enshrine that stance. Also coming in the big bill: A permanent freeze on driver’s licence renewal fees. As for a…