Liberal MPs ready to back SmartTrack

Torontosun.com
May 8, 2015
By Don Peat

Federal Liberal MPs are stressing they’re ready to help Mayor John Tory roll out his SmartTrack plan - if they win the next election and City Hall wants the $8-billion rail-based transit project.

Following a meeting between Tory and 10 members of the Ontario Federal Liberal Caucus at City Hall, Trinity-Spadina MP Adam Vaughan said if the Grits form the next government, they’ll follow the city’s lead when it comes to determining whether Ottawa helps fund SmartTrack.

Vaughan - a former councillor - said if the city makes a transit decision, it would be a Liberal government’s job to hop on board.

“The expertise and the decision needs to be at the level that is accountable to the people that use the service,”

Vaughan said when asked if the Liberals would help build SmartTrack. “You do not want people up in Ottawa drawing new lines on maps, making new decisions about transit. I don’t care how many times you go fishing with the Prime Minister, it is not the way to do transit planning.

“Cities have the capacity, cities have the expertise and cities have the needs and they know how to deliver on those needs.”

The mayor described the meeting with Vaughan and MPs Ted Hsu, Chrystia Freeland, Judy Sgro, John McKay, John McCallum, Kristy Duncan, Carolyn Bennett, Arnold Chan and Eve Adams. as “an excellent discussion.”

Since being elected last year, Tory has met with representatives from all the federal parties to urge them to help fund transit and housing.

Tory insisted on Friday he will remain neutral and not endorse any party ahead of fall’s federal election.

“It is my place to put myself forward as someone who will quite happily work with the elected government of Ontario and the elected government of Canada to get things done for Toronto - that’s my job,” Tory said.

But Tory added “if there are good things that come from other parties” for Toronto as they roll out their platforms, he’ll speak up.

“You have to give credit where credit is due and if it is something that is going to be good for Toronto, then I’m all for it,” he said.

Vaughan vowed the Liberals will work with cities and “invest in cities.”