Toronto Mayor David Miller is facing opposition to proposed municipal cuts from the Toronto Transit Commission, community councils and city councillors.
Coun. Michael Thompson (Scarborough Centre) is rallying his constituents to rebel against proposed cuts to TTC bus routes.
"I'm against the cuts. I don't believe the cuts are necessary. I believe they will have a dramatic impact on the residents of Toronto," Thompson told CTV News on Monday.
More than 50 routes are set to be slashed this week, which is why Thompson called a community meeting held Monday night at the Scarborough Civic Centre.
"The TTC is the canary in the coal mine, the coal mine is the City of Toronto," concerned resident Himy Syed said at the meeting. "So if you don't solve this problem, you're not going to solve the other problem."
The TTC has launched an online survey asking residents to voice their opinions of TTC services in the wake of the city's fiscal crisis. The results of the survey and Monday night's meeting will be presented to the TTC commission on Wednesday.
Thompson, who also sits on the Toronto Transit Commission, contends the survey is inadequate and not a dependable representation of what the public wants. "A lot of people are busy. They don't get online," Thompson said.
TTC chairman Adam Giambrone, who attend the community meeting along with TTC general manager Gary Webster, told CTV News if he were presented with options to either cut service or raise fares, he would vote for the latter. "Not that I want to, but I'm not prepared to cut service across Toronto," he said.
The TTC has been ordered to slash $30 million from this year's operating budget and $100 million from next year's budget.
The Sheppard subway line, which serves an estimated 30,000 commuters daily, is also expected to close and the TTC could introduce a fare increase of 25 cents.
The city is currently facing a budget shortfall of nearly $575 million.
City departments were warned of large cuts to services after two proposed taxes were deferred until after the October provincial election.
The proposed land transfer tax and vehicle registration fee would have raised $350 million for cash-strapped Toronto.
The North York community council voted 9-1 Monday to ask city council to stop its plan to close 100 community centres on Mondays and delay the opening of ice rinks until January.
The North York suggestion could go before council during its Sept. 26 meeting, but Miller has vowed to keep it off the agenda until its Oct. 22 meeting.
Miller contends that council voted in July to defer the proposed tax decision until after the Oct. 10 election, and that timetable will remain.
The TTC is expected to vote on the proposed cuts during its meeting on Sept. 19.
With reports from CTV's Desmond Brown and Matet Nebres
