Gardiner, DVP tolls up for debate at mayor's executive committee meeting

citynews.ca
Sept. 21, 2015

Tolls for the Gardiner Expressway and the Don Valley Parkway are up for debate as Mayor John Tory meets with his executive committee on Monday.

Councillors will be looking at three reports, one of which seeks approval to ask staff to do an in-depth study on tolling the roadways.

Tory has said in the past he’s against tolls on already established roads.

The second report focuses on a possible public-private partnership to refurbish and maintain the Gardiner, while a third report deals with building a tunnel to replace the Gardiner. The cost of the tunnel is estimated to be $10 billion.

The executive committee will also be looking at changes to the city’s lobbying registry, including forcing lobbyists to disclose who their “ultimate” client is.

The committee will be looking into its housing and shelter systems on a variety of fronts, including asking the federal government for money to close the “housing gap” by reinstating funding for social housing and cash to address the city’s repair backlog. The committee is also considering more housing at Alexandra Park and a $9-million increase to shelter funds.

Tory is part of a group that is sponsoring a Syrian family in the wake of a refugee crisis, through the non-profit group Lifeline Syria. The committee is considering a Toronto-based resettlement program for Syrian refugees, including support for Lifeline Syria.