Council debates provincial takeover of TTC
Staff advise councillors to strike transit funding deal as part of talks
Ahead of a key provincial deadline Thursday, senior city staff have laid out the principles they say should guide discussions with Premier Doug Ford’s government about its plan to take ownership of the TTC subway system.
The principles, outlined in a city report released Monday, include the province agreeing to respect Toronto’s existing transit expansion plans, and the creation of a new TTC funding model that would take financial pressure off the city.
The report is expected to be debated by council on Thursday. That’s the day by which Ontario Transportation Minister Jeff Yurek has told Mayor John Tory the province wants a written guarantee the city will share information about the subway system with Queen’s Park in order to further the upload discussion.
Tory supports entering into the information-sharing agree- ment, arguing the province has significant legislative authority to execute the upload and sitting down with the Progressive Conservative government is the best way to protect the city’s interests.
Mike Winterburn, a spokesperson for Yurek, wouldn’t say if the minister would commit to the city’s principles, but asserted the province “is committed to engaging with the City of Toronto” on the issue.
According to the city report, in the event of an upload any fu- ture transit expansion plans should “respect council priorities” already approved.
Where to build new subways has already emerged as a potential point of contention between the province and the city. While the TTC has said the Relief Line is urgently needed to take pressure off the overloaded network, the province has signalled building an extension of Line 1 (Yonge-UniversitySpadina) to Richmond Hill is also a top priority, and Yurek has mused about pushing rail lines into the suburbs of Durham, Peel and York.
The report also states that to ensure the continued success of the TTC, “there is a need for a new funding model that draws on a broader range of funding tools” to pay for transit.
It notes that Toronto, relying mainly on property taxes, pays for about 85 per cent of the TTC’s operating subsidy while the remaining 15 per cent comes from provincial gas tax contributions.
Staff say if the subway changes hands, the city and province should strike a new financial arrangement that ensures “fiscal sustainability and the fair allocation of financial obligations,” while maintaining existing service levels.
The report also says an upload would necessitate “a comprehensive review” of the governance of Metrolinx,the provincial agency most likely responsible for the rail network if the province takes ownership. City staff warn the current model means “there is no direct accountability” to municipalities affected by Metrolinx deci- sions.
The report, which is signed by city manager Chris Murray and city solicitor Wendy Walberg, recommends council authorize Murray to negotiate with the province over the terms of reference for discussions, with the goal of agreeing on objectives, models for a provincial takeover, and the inclusion of a public consultation process.
Even some councillors who oppose the upload proposal are now conceding the city has few good options to prevent it.
Last week Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam (Ward 13, Toronto Centre) told the Star that even participating in uploading talks would send the city “down the rabbit hole” towards losing a key part of its transit network.
But Monday she said that after meeting with the city manager last week she believes she has little choice but to support the recommendations in the report, although she hopes council amends it tostate the city’s opposition to provincial ownership of the subway.
Yurek said the province will introduce legislation early next year enabling the transfer of the subway to the province.
Where to build new subways has already emerged as a potential point of contention.