M
Mike in TO
Guest
Despite the Spadina extention to Vaughan being a "Toronto" Transit Commission extension the funding is coming 1/3 from Queen's Park and 1/3 from the Feds (hopefully tomorrow). It remains to be seen how the last 1/3 will be split between Toronto and York Region. So really when you think about it, its not only a "Toronto" project. The Spadina extension is more about regional connectivity, integration of transit systems and politics.
The current provincial government is committed to public transit and expanding the TTC. I wouldn't make the Spadina extention a whipping boy for Scarborough residents as I'm certain that provincial funding for the Scarborough extention will be a part of the McGuinty governments package of transit improvements for their second term in office (maybe if the economcy remains hot, some money will be set aside in the last budget of this term next spring). The majority of their seats are in Toronto and around the GTA (and Ottawa and Hamilton) - mostly urban regions that are demanding improved public transit. Politically the transit infrastructure announcements have been a significant boost for the current government. The McGuinty government will want to "occupy" that space in the eyes of the public, making it much more difficult for John Tory and the PC Party. Mr. Tory intends to run in Toronto and appear to be Toronto friendly with the hopes of catching a few 416 seats and a large number of 905 seats if the PCs have any hope of gaining power in 2007. Therefore at the end of the day the Spadina extention coming first will make the biggest splash, especially if construction commences prior to October 2007. The Scarborough funding will likely come soon after (Liberal territory, but not as vulnerable as many York Region seats - but Liberal MPPs are definitely feeling the pressure).
Tomorrow's federal budget should be interesting. The Tories have a lot of money to spend and will hopefully take action on the urban infrastructure file. Their focus seems to be on Quebec, but Flaherty certainly knows that if they can make progress on their five priorities, plus make some strategic infrastructure investments to the GTA that there may be a few additional 905 seats within their grasp. Although the lines between 416 and 905 are increasingly becoming blurred as the GTA is starting to vote in a single block, whereas in the past there seemed to be a bigger political split between Toronto and its suburbs.
The current provincial government is committed to public transit and expanding the TTC. I wouldn't make the Spadina extention a whipping boy for Scarborough residents as I'm certain that provincial funding for the Scarborough extention will be a part of the McGuinty governments package of transit improvements for their second term in office (maybe if the economcy remains hot, some money will be set aside in the last budget of this term next spring). The majority of their seats are in Toronto and around the GTA (and Ottawa and Hamilton) - mostly urban regions that are demanding improved public transit. Politically the transit infrastructure announcements have been a significant boost for the current government. The McGuinty government will want to "occupy" that space in the eyes of the public, making it much more difficult for John Tory and the PC Party. Mr. Tory intends to run in Toronto and appear to be Toronto friendly with the hopes of catching a few 416 seats and a large number of 905 seats if the PCs have any hope of gaining power in 2007. Therefore at the end of the day the Spadina extention coming first will make the biggest splash, especially if construction commences prior to October 2007. The Scarborough funding will likely come soon after (Liberal territory, but not as vulnerable as many York Region seats - but Liberal MPPs are definitely feeling the pressure).
Tomorrow's federal budget should be interesting. The Tories have a lot of money to spend and will hopefully take action on the urban infrastructure file. Their focus seems to be on Quebec, but Flaherty certainly knows that if they can make progress on their five priorities, plus make some strategic infrastructure investments to the GTA that there may be a few additional 905 seats within their grasp. Although the lines between 416 and 905 are increasingly becoming blurred as the GTA is starting to vote in a single block, whereas in the past there seemed to be a bigger political split between Toronto and its suburbs.