That is the real issue. SmartTrack (5 minute frequencies on mainline GO track with TTC fares) could have largely been a reality with a ~6% 30-year special capital levy. That would have let the city contribute about $4B toward capital and $100M/year toward operations for that project in addition to likely matching capital provincial and federal contributions.
Ignore Eglinton West portion entirely (terminate at Eglinton on the west) and the rest could have been very useful.
Of course, Toronto could still do that kind of thing.
I think what needs to happen is that GO RER in some fashion needs to be built, even a small portion on one line. Don't build any new stations, just after double tracking is done, electrify say, Stouffville to Mount Joy. Get some EMU's running 8-15 minute service to the existing stations stat.
Once you do this, and people see it with their own eyes, they will understand the massive potential, and people will be clamoring for more stations, more frequent service, fare integration, and every GO line to be upgraded in such fashion.
But right now you talk more GO train service, stations and people think "those smelly hulking, slow, bi level diesels? yuck, no we need more subways"
Electrifying a line and putting EMU's on it will finally force people to understand. You can show them pics of Paris RER, the London Overground, but until its running here in Toronto, they won't connect the dots.
