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Premier Kathleen Wynne and What Her Election Means for Transit

TheTigerMaster

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Kathleen Wynne was elected Premier of Ontario on the weekend and she has already begun talking transit:

TORONTO - Toronto could be on track for new transit tolls or taxes with incoming Premier Kathleen Wynne in charge.

Wynne blitzed radio stations Monday morning and made it clear she's prepared to support new revenue tools for transit, won't let a casino be imposed on a municipality that doesn't want it and is willing to work with Mayor Rob Ford.

Asked about transit funding on CBC's Metro Morning, Wynne stressed the province is "playing catch-up" on investing in transit.

"If we can now understand that there are going to have to be new revenue tools, that we are going to have find a way to create a revenue stream because we can't balance the budget at the provincial level and build all the transit that is needed in the GTHA and beyond - we can't do that without new revenue streams."

Wynne wasn't ruling out any revenue tools including road tolls, parking levy or dedicated transit tax.

"In my leadership bid, I talked about them up front," she said. "I was elected as the leader and will be the premier with everyone knowing that I'm prepared to take that political risk in order to build transit."

Mayor Rob Ford said Sunday he hopes to speak with Wynne about funding for new subways in Toronto. Wynne said she plans to speak to Ford soon.

"I will be reaching out to him as soon as I can," she said.

"I want us to have an open dialogue, I want there to be an open channel."

During an interview on KiSS 92.5, Wynne was optimistic she could work with Ford.

"We will find a way to work together going forward," she said, adding it was important the premier have a good relationship with all of the mayors.

Asked how she, as the province's first openly gay premier, could have a good relationship with Ford - who has balked at participating in Pride events in Toronto and has a rocky relationship with the city's gay community - Wynne acknowledged it could be "tough."

"It is hard for some people to come to grips with difference. I get that," she told the hosts.

"I hope that in my interactions with Mayor Ford and with all of the people who have trouble understanding that different sexual orientations are not threatening. I hope that we can come to some kind of understanding about acceptance.

"I would love to see Mayor Ford be able to interact with the queer community in a different way but you know I have to work with him no matter what his stance is."

Wynne also weighed in on the looming debate over a Toronto casino - repeating her stance that it is up to the municipality.

"Municipalities have to make that decision," she said. "I will not be part of a government that will impose casinos on municipalities."

On a personal level, Wynne did reveal she's "not a fan of casinos."

"I'm not a fan of gambling but they are here with us, they are here to stay," she said.
http://www.torontosun.com/2013/01/28/wynne-wont-rule-out-tolls-for-transit

I hate to use the TO Sun as a source, but they were the only one reporting on this.

Anyways, Wynne was by far the most pro-transit candidate and if she can avoid another election she may be able to do great things for transit in the GTHA. Any ideas on what her election means for transit?
 
Kathleen Wynne was elected Premier of Ontario on the weekend and she has already begun talking transit:



I hate to use the TO Sun as a source, but they were the only one reporting on this.

Anyways, Wynne was by far the most pro-transit candidate and if she can avoid another election she may be able to do great things for transit in the GTHA. Any ideas on what her election means for transit?

My hope is that Metrolinx can speed things up a bit, and get the framework for these new revenue tools drawn up before the next Provincial election. Even better if they're already in place and generating revenue. Politically, it's a lot harder to backtrack on something that's already implemented.

Personally, I'd like to hear what Andrea Horwath has to say on this, because it's going to be her propping up the Liberals. The more big issues her and Wynne have an agreement on, the longer the current government stays in power, and the longer the Metrolinx revenue tools have to come to fruition.

One thing is for sure though: Metrolinx and Wynne are going to need to go on a PR blitz to tie revenue tools with the 'next wave' projects. I think rational people (ie not hardcore NeoCons) will be much more likely to support these new revenue tools if they can see exactly what the money is going to. If they're in Peel Region, showcase the Hurontario LRT. If they're in Toronto, showcase the DRL. If they're in York Region, showcase the Yonge extension. They need to tie the tax to the result, otherwise it'll just be seen as a cash grab.
 
My hope is that Metrolinx can speed things up a bit, and get the framework for these new revenue tools drawn up before the next Provincial election. Even better if they're already in place and generating revenue. Politically, it's a lot harder to backtrack on something that's already implemented.

Personally, I'd like to hear what Andrea Horwath has to say on this, because it's going to be her propping up the Liberals. The more big issues her and Wynne have an agreement on, the longer the current government stays in power, and the longer the Metrolinx revenue tools have to come to fruition.

One thing is for sure though: Metrolinx and Wynne are going to need to go on a PR blitz to tie revenue tools with the 'next wave' projects. I think rational people (ie not hardcore NeoCons) will be much more likely to support these new revenue tools if they can see exactly what the money is going to. If they're in Peel Region, showcase the Hurontario LRT. If they're in Toronto, showcase the DRL. If they're in York Region, showcase the Yonge extension. They need to tie the tax to the result, otherwise it'll just be seen as a cash grab.

Getting through to NeoCons is always hard. But I figure that if the Liberals can explain that a single streetcar takes a whole block of cars off the road (there's a photo of this somewhere on UT) and that Subways and LRT take off dozens of times more, they can convince Conservatives that any money lost due to a tax hike will be more than offset with saved gas money.
 
Getting through to NeoCons is always hard. But I figure that if the Liberals can explain that a single streetcar takes a whole block of cars off the road (there's a photo of this somewhere on UT) and that Subways and LRT take off dozens of times more, they can convince Conservatives that any money lost due to a tax hike will be more than offset with saved gas money.

TTM, I had requested that photo in another thread. I moved the photos here:
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12937_188853729238_3339099_n.jpg
 
Any ideas on what her election means for transit?
For GO and Metrolinx? Pretty much the pre-election status quo. Wynne was Transport minister for almost 2 years during 2010 and 2011, so she'd already on board with what there long-term plans are.

This is probably the best outcome possible for GO. We shouldn't be seeing any cancelling of GO projects/service like we did under Premier Miller or Premier Rae. Or the downloading we saw during Harris. And positive for local transit as well, given that Wynne seems to be more interested in it than some of her colleagues.

And it should provide some stability with the government as Howarth has already made noises about working with Wynne, and Wynne has made it clear that she doesn't want an election ... so we have 2-3 years for some significant progress until the next election in 2015, or possibly 2016.
 
Remind me why road tolls for more transit is a bad idea?

Road tolls are a terrible idea because only the rich can afford to pay them. That leaves the average Joe to make his way to work on clogged secondary roads. It would be a disaster if the Gardiner or any other highway in the GTA was tolled.

Wynne says that the province needs new revenue streams to pay for transit. The fact is we wouldn't need these new streams if the Liberals hadn't looted tens of billions of dollars from the province through scams like green energy - e-health - ornge - cancelled power-plants to save Liberal seats - lucrative contracts for the already overpaid and under-worked teachers that put them into power and on and on
 
Wynne hinted this morning that she won't rule out transportation taxes and toll roads.
How could she rule it out? Metrolinx has been legally required since about 2008 to report on various financing options in 2013, and come up with a plan forward. Surely it would be a bad sign if she was trying to sabotage that. Not ruling it out, isn't ruling it in.

She will never get elected by the general public so hopefully an election is forced soon.
Why would you want to force potentially the most transit-friendly Premier since ... since ... well probably since Davis out? Do you think Howarth would do better for transit? (presumably you wouldn't consider Hudak as being good for transit, given his promises to yet again cancel Eglinton).

Road tolls are a terrible idea because only the rich can afford to pay them. That leaves the average Joe to make his way to work on clogged secondary roads. It would be a disaster if the Gardiner or any other highway in the GTA was tolled.
That makes no sense. The average Jane can afford 20¢ to 30¢ a km in vehicle costs, but only the rich could afford another 5¢ a km more in tolling? I'm not sure tolling is the solution - and it probably isn't. But your argument is lacking any basis.
 
Wynne was a key part of creating the current maps. I doubt much change will happen.

I am becoming increasingly confident that the current minority government will last until at least early 2014. Horwath seems more than willing to cooperate with the Liberals, and Wynne is emphasising that she is willing to cooperate as well. While I have no doubt that the liberals will lose the next election, I doubt that election will be before 2014, and well after the transit tax is implemented. (thank god)
 
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This seems like a bad move on the part of Wynne. Frankly, I'm surprised that she commented on the issue.

Up to this point, Liberal politicians had avoided stating any preference for any particular outcome. With Metrolinx's current public engagment and the conversation about congestion and transit occuring in the media, it seemed like they were hoping that answers about acceptable levels of funding and least-unpopular fuding tools could arise through those channels. This method would result in a good "the people asked for it" solution that the PCs and NDP could potentially also endorse since those taxes and/or fees were never proposed by an official of the Liberal party.

By stating preferences, Wynne is ensuring that new fees and/or taxes will be seen as Liberal policy. Bad idea.

"Metrolinx proposes new taxes, Premier says she will discuss with Mayors and opposition leaders." versus "Premier proposes new taxes."
 
While I have no doubt that the liberals will lose the next election, I doubt that election will be before 2014, and well after the transit tax is implemented. (thank god)
I'd be shocked that if Metrolinx actually does report on time in 2013, that the taxes would be in place in 2014.
 
This seems like a bad move on the part of Wynne. Frankly, I'm surprised that she commented on the issue.

Up to this point, Liberal politicians had avoided stating any preference for any particular outcome. With Metrolinx's current public engagment and the conversation about congestion and transit occuring in the media, it seemed like they were hoping that answers about acceptable levels of funding and least-unpopular fuding tools could arise through those channels. This method would result in a good "the people asked for it" solution that the PCs and NDP could potentially also endorse since those taxes and/or fees were never proposed by an official of the Liberal party.

By stating preferences, Wynne is ensuring that new fees and/or taxes will be seen as Liberal policy. Bad idea.

"Metrolinx proposes new taxes, Premier says she will discuss with Mayors and opposition leaders." versus "Premier proposes new taxes."

Since:
1. rapid transit projects will have 50-100 year lives, if not longer
2. long-term interest rates are really low

Why can't we consider a long-term funding solution for transit, where a provincially-guaranteed agency borrows the money very long-term (which probably means 30 years) with a 50-year plan to pay off the debt via a mix of GTA road tolls, additional taxes on parking spaces and perhaps an additional GTA gasoline tax. The notion we have to pay for transit out of general provincial revenues is pretty much a guarantee we'll never build anything more. And the idea that we can only pay as we go for projects more or less ensures we'll never build anything remotely adequate.
 

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