Ontario Premier Doug Ford has announced that the province will be providing $1.2 billion in funding to Toronto over three years in order to alleviate the growing financial pressure on the city. The funds are intended to go toward operating supports, homeless shelters, policing, and finishing two LRT lines. In addition, the province has agreed to “upload” the capital costs of the Don Valley Parkway and Gardner Express Way at a cost of up to $7.6 billion.
The deal has been hailed as a “wonderful first step” by Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, who emphasized the need for the federal government to provide the final third of funding needed for housing and public transit. Mayor Chow, who ran on a platform of affordable housing, highlighted the financial challenges facing the city, including the 85,000 residents currently on the waitlist for affordable housing.
In response to criticisms, Premier Ford emphasized that his administration has provided more funding to all of Ontario’s 444 municipalities than any other provincial government. He also reiterated the importance of the federal government contributing their fair share towards funding for Canada’s largest city.