Mayor John Tory has accused Premier Kathleen Wynne’s government of turning its back on Toronto following a budget announcement that provided no new money for social housing repairs and failed to match federal commitments for transit.“The most crucial needs of the people of the city of Toronto were not met by this budget,” Tory told reporters a day after the province released a balanced budget that was touted for new drug coverage and increases to childcare. “Premier Kathleen Wynne and her government had a chance to stand up for Toronto on transit and on housing. Instead, at least on the pages of this budget, they turned their backs.”RELATED STORY:Ontario Liberals reject Mayor John Tory’s calls to match federal transit fundingTory flatly admitted that without provincial funding, the transit projects that council has designated as its top priorities won’t be completed. The recent federal budget committed what city officials estimate will be between $4.5 billion and $5 billion to pay up to 40 per cent of new transit projects. The mayor had called on Queen’s Park to match the federal funding, but his hopes were dashed with Thursday’s budget announcement. “Let’s be clear, without matching dollars from the province, the relief line cannot be built,” Tory said. “Waterfront transit will not be built. The Eglinton East LRT cannot be built.” On Thursday, Ontario Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca argued that the province is already investing billions of dollars in Toronto transit, including money to build the Eglinton Crosstown and Finch West LRT lines, and to expand GO Transit service in the city. Tory acknowledged that the province has contributed to projects already underway, but argued “decades of inaction on transit” means that “continuous investment” from Queen’s Park is required. “I don’t think there’s a s ...
|
