Local Progressive Conservative MPPs under pressure to stand up for Toronto against deep funding cuts say they’re standing behind Premier Doug Ford, even if a couple don’t want to talk about it.The Star emailed questions to the 10 Toronto Tory MPPs other than Ford, including whether they are uncomfortable with any of their government’s cuts pegged by the city manager at $178 million this year for public health, transit maintenance, child-care spaces for low-income parents and more.Mayor John Tory, city councillors and some of their constituents are urging them to convince Ford and his cabinet to rescind the budget cuts, including one that hits Toronto harder than other cities, and sit down with municipalities to explore ways the province can save money and cut the deficit.Ford’s office quickly let the Star know the MPPs would respond with a joint statement, which said: “Our government is protecting what matters most for Toronto families — like health care and education — by balancing the budget in a reasonable and responsible manner . . .“While our government protects what matters — like health care and education — and cleans up an inherited fiscal mess, we are asking our municipal partners to work alongside us to find efficiencies.”It repeated Ford statements about wasteful city spending and concluded: “We fight each and every day for the people of Toronto and we want to work with the City of Toronto as a partner,” and the MPPs welcome “any opportunity” to discuss the issues in greater detail with the city.Read more: Doug Ford’s cuts put over 6,000 subsidized daycare spaces at risk, Toronto warnsOpinion | Christopher Hume: Doug Ford offers booze, speed and dangerous cuts — is that what Ontarians want?Ontario mayors angered by public health cuts blast province for ‘downloading by stealth’Six of them spoke to the Star, at least briefly, when approached ...
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