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sure, first he cuts and now he agrees we need money!

D

dan e 1980

Guest
Toronto needs cash, Flaherty agrees
Feb. 25, 2006. 01:00 AM
RICHARD BRENNAN
QUEEN'S PARK BUREAU

Toronto's crumbling roads and struggling transit system need cash infusions, federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said yesterday.

"Toronto is an important part of the economic engine of Canada and we need to address the infrastructure issues, including transit, including the highways," he told reporters yesterday.

"We have fallen behind in that respect, so we have a commitment to work in that area. I think it has to be a priority," he said, adding he isn't making spending commitments until he brings down his spring budget.

Flaherty was in Toronto to participate in a panel discussion on fiscal realignment with provincial Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Marie Bountrogianni and Mayor David Miller.

Flaherty said it is crucial that goods and services "can move effectively in the Greater Toronto Area and in all of southern Ontario for that matter."

Miller said what Toronto needs more than a highway is a "much better network of public transit," which has not kept pace with population growth.

"We need significantly more public transit investment and within the City of Toronto we don't have room for new highways," he said.

During the panel discussion, Bountrogianni and Miller mainly looked to Flaherty to find the money to help cities.

"Rest assured ... you will not be alone in dealing with the important challenges," he said about cities. "A healthy more prosperous and more secure Toronto is good not only for the whole province, but is good for the whole country."

Bountrogianni said if Ottawa ignores Ontario and its cities "they do so at their peril."

"You can't have a strong federation ... but you can't have a strong British Columbia, a strong Newfoundland without a strong Ontario or without a strong Toronto."

Flaherty said: "We know that the federal government can play a useful and supportive role in securing the future of our cities and communities, including large urban centres like the Greater Toronto Area," he said.

He said Ottawa wants to enhance the "new deal" to allow cities to use the gas tax transfer dollars for building and repairing roads. Currently, the rules stipulate the money must be used for "environmentally sustainable," projects such as improving transit and upgrading sewer and water systems.
 
While it's true Flaherty was no great friend of Toronto during his time in Queen's Park, he's not stupid. The whole political establishment of the country is slowly waking up to the importance of big cities, and I don't think the Tories are an exception to that.
 
allabootmatt:

Or perhaps they are waking up to the reality that they need the votes in the big cities?

AoD
 
Flatten the island airport and fund some TTC subway extension and we'll give u a majority next election.
 

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