GenerationW
Senior Member
What financial constraints? Considering the massive deficit spending by the Feds and the Province in the past number of months, the time to strike for that funding is now (if it hasn't passed already). Sure, it would take lobbying and sweet-talking, but can you imagine all the photo-ops for Harper and/or McGuinty in announcing sustained funding for a long-term subway expansion? There would be press conferences and ground-breaking ceremonies up the wazoo, and political capital to be gained.It could be very interesting to watch potential Miller opponents flesh out their transit policies over the next year. Will they push for a larger overall capital investment in transit, which subways would require? How might they convince the province and feds to come up with this cash, when all governments are facing severe financial constraints? Based on past performance, I don't expect suburban residents to approve of higher taxes or greater debt loads.
Unfortunately, Miller and Giambrone were very astute in getting Harper's government to contribute stimulus money to their number one priority -- the Sheppard LRT, thus killing subway expansion in Toronto (unless, of course, it's the kind driven by York Region), and propping up their beloved Transit City. I'm not sure what Harper thinks he'll get out of it, but Miller and Giambrone must have been laughing all the way home.
Frankly, I'm not convinced Miller will lose next year, so any push for more capital investment in transit (or even altering current spending) is far from a sure thing.