Federal election shouldn't derail Scarborough subway

TorontoSun.com
Aug. 13, 2015

The three main contenders in October’s federal election could play a role in the future of the Scarborough subway — and Toronto’s mayor wants to keep it on track.

“My objective by the end of the campaign will be, through both private and public inquiry if necessary, to have all three parties committing themselves to these transit projects that have been committed to so that the people of Toronto will know — regardless of how they cast their vote — those transit projects will be funded by that level of government,” John Tory said Thursday.

The Conservatives said they would maintain their $660-million funding commitment made by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

The NDP said it would leave specific decisions to municipalities and Olivia Chow said at her Spadina-Fort York nomination Thursday night the party would provide “predictable stable funding” of “at least $1.3 billion every year for 20 years.”

“Once you have that kind of cooperation with municipal government and predictable funding, then it’s up to municipalities and provinces to work out what kind of projects (go ahead),” Chow said.

The Liberals also vowed to leave transit decisions up to local councils.

“We’ve taken a very clear position that goes straight to the heart of the matter, it is that cities and provinces decide where the lines on the map go,” said Liberal Spadina-Fort York candidate Adam Vaughan. “Our job (as the federal government) is to fund transit and, in particular in Toronto’s case, not just fund new projects but also make sure the funds are there for state of good repair.”

Tory said he stands firmly behind the Scarborough subway and doesn’t propose to reopen the debate.

“There will be some discussion, obviously, about the route based on what the environmental assessment says but this is a transit project previously approved by the city council and the federal government and the provincial government,” Tory said.