Toronto council rejects funding tools for transit expansion

Toronto city council hasvotedto reject a handfulof the revenue toolsrecommended toitin a city manager's report on how to help pay for transit expansion.

The two-day marathon council session, that included along and at times confusing listof motions, ended with councillorsvoting against any measure that supports a property tax, transit fare increase, personal income tax or congestion levy.

The dedicated sales tax and development charges were left on the table andnot endorsed by the city both funding tools were recommended to council by city manager Joe Pennachetti in a report on the issue last month.

Councildidvoteto support high occupancy toll lanes, highway tolls or other road pricing, as well as a vehicle registration tax once the first wave of The Big Move projects, or roughly $16 billion, had been completed.

The tools are needed togenerate about $2 billion a year to pay for The Big Move a regional transit expansion plan for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area which is expected to cost $50 billion over 25 years.

The province's regional transit authority, Metrolinx,asked municipalities to report backin the next fewweekswith a list of preferred tools, but Mayor Rob Ford's executive committeeattempted to delay a vote until after the deadline.

Ford was elated council rejected the funding tools and told the Toronto Star that Thursday "is one of the greatest days in Toronto history."

The city's recommendations will nowbe sent to Metrolinx, which will present them to theOntario government later this month.

Some councillorswere disappointed by Thursday's vote, saying it essentially cedes all future decisions on transit funding over to the province.

Coun. Kristyn Wong-Tam called the result of Thursday's debate a "spectacular failure of political leadership."

"Council has given [the province] little to no clarity on what we would support," Wong-Tam said Friday on CBC Radio's Metro Morning. "Weve said nothing to the province, and nothing to Metrolinx."

'We don't have to increase taxes'

The discussion over revenue tools began on Wednesday.

During questioning by councillors, Pennachetti said it was important that Toronto give Metrolinxsome direction for transit funding or city residents could end up with higher property taxes.

Ford was questioned by his opponents in council on Thursday over his position on the proposed revenue tools.

"Theres more than enough money, we dont have to increase taxes," he said. "If we don't have one red cent left then we'd have to look at an alternative way."

A few tense moments arose when TTC Chair Karen Stintzand Ford engaged in a heated exchange.

Ford said Stintz hadindicatedshe would "guarantee" building subways if she was made TTC chair.

"You didn't obviously tell me the truth," Ford said, creating a stir among councillors.

Stintz took to Twitter afterward, pointing out that Fordhad backeda 2012 city report recommending road tolls and parking fees tohelp pay for the Sheppard subway extension:

Fordhas said "hell will freeze over" before he supports any proposals cited in the report.

Transit for the next century

Coun. Janet Davis said it was time to have a mature, realistic, discussion about transit.

"I dont think [Toronto residents] believe the mayor, his brother [Coun. Doug Ford] and the deputy mayor [Coun. Doug Holyday] that somehow we can build these things with no additional revenues," she said. "The people of Toronto are smart enough to know we dont get this for free."

Coun. Adam Vaughan said the city was growing and needs a bigger transit system.

"If we want a transportation system for the next century were going to have to figure out a way to build it," he said.

The mayor's brother said on Wednesday thatPremier Kathleen Wynne wasn't elected and should consult Ontario residents before imposing new taxes.

"In my opinion she has absolutelyno right to go out there and tax the people of this province," Doug Ford said.

The Toronto Transit Commission's CEO Andy Byford said the city's congestion is a problem that's only going to get worse.

"I think Torontonians are fed up with talk and no action. It's time to get spades in the ground," he said.