From that article....That was 10 years back, but there are lots of news stories. Google 'connecting links funding cuts'. Here's one: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/wind...am-that-helped-cities-pay-for-roads-1.1376955
DF has largely returned funding to all the province's connecting link roads and bridges. Most were less than 3KM.
Connecting links are local cop jurisdiction. For example' of you live in Markham, you get YRP on 7 and 48, but OPP on 407. Head east or north of local cop jurisdiction and you get OPP on 7 or 48.
Same goes for DVP, and Gardiner -- TPS. If you ever get to Timmins or Barrie, you'll see the same on 101 or 26.
I don't think it was downloaded. The west section was enveloped into Toronto during amalgamation, the province completely rebuilt that section into 10 lanes before giving the roadway and lands to Toronto -- it wasn't foist onto them.
"The program was a subsidy that municipalities used to help fund construction, maintenance and repairs on roads the province designated as "connecting links," which are portions of provincial highways that run through communities and are not owned by the Ministry of Transportation."
As I speculated, the province did not "download" to the cities in 2013 they just stopped a program than helped cities pay for roads (cut the subsidy).