Transit fix to be funded by taxpayers: Marchese

Kimberly Spice –

Who is going to pay to fix the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area (GTHA) transit problem? You are.

Proposed revenue generating ideas were presented to approximately 40 people at the Transit Town Hall meeting, Feb. 25.

The focus was directly on the public and business’ to reach further into their pockets through taxes and other proposals, which involved an increase in taxes such as income, property and corporate taxes. Other ideas included tolls, vehicle registration tax and higher fuel taxes only to name a few.

Richard Joy, vice-president, policy and government relations, Toronto Region Board of Trade, leaned toward the greater revenue generators saying that other suggestions such as a driver’s licence charge and transit fare increases would be better for public policy.

Joy told the audience that the Toronto Board of Trade will be presenting their ideas to the public, and although there is room for debate, he made it clear that saying, “none of the above,” isn’t an option.

“It will be a public release,” Joy told The Bulletin in an email. “But aimed at the province and municipalities as well.”

MPP Trinity-Spadina, Rosario Marchese along with Joy and Paul Bedford, former chief city planner for the City of Toronto, presented at the Palmerston Public Library with focus directed at the mounting transportation problems resulting in a $6 billion loss in productivity.

“That $6 billion number is actually getting worse and probably gets worse by 2031 if we were not to embrace The Big Move that would swell to $15 billion,” Joy told the audience.

“This is about competitiveness. If we don’t get these kinds of numbers down this is about regional competitiveness with the rest of the world and that is what largely drives us in Toronto Board of Trade into this issue is international competitiveness.”

Major decisions need to be made by politicians prior to a June 1 deadline when Metrolinx will take their transportation investment strategy to the premier, which is part of The Big Move, a transportation plan for the GTA and Hamilton area.

“Metrolinx by June 1 of this year must develop a comprehensive investment strategy on how you’re going to pay for The Big Move initiative and send it to the premier,” stated Bedford. “The next few months are critical.”

The Big Move information can be found at www.metrolinx.com. Rosario Marchese, MPP Trinity-Spadina, information is located at www.rosariomarchese.ca.