Tory, Colle, differ on federal budget transit funding

Mayor effusive in praise for federal Conservatives, TTC chair more skeptical.

Thestar.com
April 21, 2015
By David Rider

Mayor John Tory and TTC chair Councillor Josh Colle have different takes on both the federal budget and Toronto’s top transit priority.

While cautioning he needs to study the details, Tory lavished praise Tuesday on the budget’s promised cash for major urban public transit projects.

If the federal Conservatives are re-elected this fall, the funding would be split amongst big cities and start to flow in 2017, at $250 million, rise to $500 million in 2018 and double again to a stable $1 billion a year in 2019.

“I believe this is a major step forward for Canada and for Toronto,” Tory told reporters. “Finally, and for the first time in history, Canada has a permanent national fund for transit that will soon add up to $1 billion annually for transit projects.”

The mayor said he hopes the other federal parties take notice and, in their election platforms, match or better the Conservative commitment.

As soon as possible, he vowed, Toronto will apply for federal funding for his SmartTrack transit expansion plan, adding: “SmartTrack is my top transit priority.”

Asked about SmartTrack as his transit priority, Colle, Tory’s pick last December to lead the TTC board, said: “It will be one of the TTC’s priorities but at the same time I think our priority at the TTC is to get a better level of service for what we currently have, and so as TTC chair I think that’s our top priority.”

The TTC chair is disappointed Ottawa did not pledge ongoing money for daily operations of Canada’s biggest urban transit system.