Mayor Rob Ford says Torontonians should look at a proposed tax hike to help extend the Bloor-Danforth subway line into Scarborough as an investment rather than an expense.
The tax-averse mayor made the comment to CP24 Saturday morning, ahead of a planned meeting with federal finance minister Jim Flaherty to request federal funding for the project.
“It works out to five dollars a household. That’s an investment,” he said. “You look along any subway line you are going to get jobs and you are going to get businesses. It is a win-win for everyone.”
Last year the city approved an $8.7 billion light rail plan for the city, which included a light rail line into Scarborough, but in May council voiced its support for extending the Bloor-Danforth subway line from Kennedy Station to Scarborough Town Centre instead.
City Manager Joe Pennachetti then released a report on Friday suggesting the city would need to raise taxes by 1.1 to 2.4 per cent over the next three years to afford the $2.3 billion price tag attached to the project, prompting Ford to hold a press conference where he backed away from his long-standing opposition to property tax increases.
“Do you want to pay $3 for a LRT (Light Rail Transit) or an extra $2 for a subway? That’s what it comes down to,” Ford said Saturday. “For $5 a household I don’t know how you say no to that when you are getting a subway.”
Ford hopes to press Flaherty for money
The province has previously pledged $1.8 billion in funding for the light-rail plan, however Ford said he expects that money to be shifted to the Scarborough subway should council vote in favour of the project.
Ford said a modest tax hike and provincial funding alone won’t cover the costs, though, something he said he planned to make clear to Flaherty during their meeting.
“I am going to see if I can turn him upside down and shake some pennies out of his pocket,” he said.
Speaking with CP24 ahead of the meeting, Flaherty said the city could qualify for infrastructure funding for the subway expansion or the light rail plan.
“We have substantial infrastructure money available through our budget planning. It is a question of how it is allocated and that is really up to the city council here and what they decide to do, and the support of the province,” he said. “We will see what they decide to do. I’m here.”
