Ontario’s Liberal leader wants to give you a break if you buy winter tires.
Steven Del Duca is committing to providing a rebate of $75 per tire on their purchase if elected premier next year.
“This is such an important move with respect to making life more affordable for people, but also at the same time, protecting the travelling public and making sure that at all times were enhancing safety,” says Del Duca.
According to a recent survey from the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada, 73 per cent of Ontario motorists currently make the switch to winter tires each season.
It’s 50 per cent in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
Quebec is the only province where winter tires are mandatory.
They are also required in some parts of British Columbia.
Del Duca says making winter tires mandatory in Ontario would be too much of a hit on motorist pocketbooks at this time.
“What I want people to know is that I and our team, we will be on their side. We understand what kind of relief they need right now as they are dealing with really, really tough cost-of-living challenges.”
Del Duca estimates the rebate to cost Ontario $80-million annually.
But he foresees savings in the costs associated with motor vehicle collisions.
“When you have fewer collisions on our roads, you have less need for First Responders to be out there. When you see costs drop in emergency rooms for people who’ve been injured on the roads, we know that there’s the potential cost savings.”
Tire experts say winter tires offer softer tread compounds that help grip that road better than all-season tires, especially when temperatures reach the freezing mark.
