WATCH ABOVE: Mayor Tory is satisfied with Ontario’s commitment to transit improvements.
TORONTO- Mayor John Tory says the budget released by the Ontario Liberals will benefit Toronto and help facilitate projects by the city, including his Smart Track transit initiative.
“I think this has been an important week for transit in Toronto,” said Tory. “Toronto needs a strong, equal partner to deliver Smart Track and today’s budget confirms we have such a partner in Premier Wynne and the government of Ontario.”
The Ontario government announced a $2.6 billion boost to public transit funding over the next decade on Thursday for projects like enhanced GO Transit service and various light rail transit plans, bringing the total amount the government is spending to $31.5 billion.
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“The province is committing to significant investment in the shared infrastructure needed to deliver Smart Track which is exactly what we hoped for,” said Tory.
This is the second commitment to funding transit to be released this week with the Federal government promising to provide more cash if they are elected in the next federal election.
“We need that electrification the whole of Smart Track depended on that. I’m fully optimistic and happy that they’re doing exactly what we wanted them to do in terms of giving Toronto its fair share,” said Tory.
“Now the federal government, I believe, has upped the ante with a permanent national $1 billion a year fund for transit and I think Toronto is going to get its fair share,” said Tory in reaction to the federal budget released on Tuesday.”
Tory added while he is happy with the commitments that have already been made, he intends to continue negotiating for more.
“No matter how much we get, I’m never going to stop advocating to the other governments for more funding for Toronto because we are the biggest city in the province and the biggest city in the country.”
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