York Region politicians angry over John Tory's threat to stop subway project

Subway would extend north from Finch Station to Hwy. 7

Yorkregion.com
May 11, 2017
By Simone Joseph

York Region politicians are reacting with anger after Toronto Mayor John Tory threatened that if he does not receive money from the province for his subway Relief Line, he will stop the Yonge Street subway extension project.

“John Tory is a bully,” Thornhill councillor Alan Shefman said. “He is threatening and whining. He thinks he gets things done when he threatens.”

Shefman, along with Markham Coun. Valerie Burke and Richmond Hill Coun. Godwin Chan, formed the Yonge Street North Group to lobby federal and provincial ministers, as well as Metrolinx, to get the 7.4-km extension built.

It would extend north from Finch Station to Hwy. 7, into York Region.

Plans for the extension to Richmond Hill Centre would see four new stations built in York Region: Clark, Royal Orchard, Langstaff and Richmond Hill Centre.

The province made a funding announcement in June 2016 allocating $55 million for design work for the extension of the Yonge subway.

Tory has said a downtown Relief Line is needed to take pressure off both major subway lines and ease congestion at Yonge-Bloor.

“The Yonge subway extension should not be held hostage,” the ward one councillor wrote in an email. “It is vital that the engineering work on the Yonge subway extension continue for the benefit of York Region and Toronto residents and businesses”.

York Region chair and CEO Wayne Emmerson pointed out the benefits of extending the subway north, including relieving traffic congestion.

“I think it’s time for the province to take transit out of the hands of Toronto,” Shefman said.