TORONTO – Mayor Rob Ford said Tuesday he is hoping to see increased funding for Toronto`s infrastructure in the coming Ontario budget.
“Absolutely,” Ford said. “I’ll take money wherever I can get it.”
Ford made the comments during a press conference Tuesday at which he unveiled the city’s plans for summer roadwork.
“I had a good conversation with Premier Wynne a couple weeks ago, so I can’t say whether we’re going to get it or not,” Ford said.
Metrolinx recently unveiled a host of revenue tools which the province could use to help fund expanded public transit in the region.
Among the suggested revenue tools were a fuel tax, employer payroll tax, highway tolls, property taxes and sales taxes.
Ford expressed his opinion on those revenue tools last week by pretending to vomit and suggesting a casino could be used instead of higher taxes.
Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong – chair of the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee which oversees road work in the city – echoed Ford’s call for increased infrastructure funding from the province.
“We’d like to see some money from the province,” Minnan-Wong said. “This would be the government’s opportunity to invest more in transit and infrastructure.”
Minnan-Wong added that the upcoming budget would be a “good opportunity for the province of Ontario to step up and help the city of Toronto.”
It’s currently not known when the Kathleen Wynne government will table their next budget.
Comments