Toronto Mayor John Tory still appears confident about his reelection chances after announcing his support for tolls on the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway.
Tory was on the Rush with Ryan and Jay on NEWSTALK 1010 where he defended the move. "It is not going to cost me the election," Tory said. "If I lose the election standing up for the need to be honest with people, and build transit, and have a plan, and specify how you're going to pay for it, then so be it."
Reporter @JustineLewkowic has more on why mayor John Tory says he supports road tolls pic.twitter.com/giiANeWQWG
— NEWSTALK1010 (@NEWSTALK1010) November 24, 2016
A $2 flat fee to drive a portion or length of both routes is expected could raise up to $160 million a year once implemented. The system could be in place by 2019.
But a city staff report finds $1.40 of each $2 toll is needed to maintain the highways, leaving only 60 cents per trip to fund future infrastructure or transit expansion.
In a lunchtime speech at the Toronto Region Board of Trade, Tory says when considering new methods to raise money for the city he considered four criteria: is it fair, does it give people a choice, does it produce more than just money, and can money be designated directly towards projects.
Tory believes tolling the Gardiner and DVP ticks all the boxes.
WATCH: Mayor Tory speaking with reporters on his support of road tolls pic.twitter.com/Xnv2HUe7sH
— NEWSTALK1010 (@NEWSTALK1010) November 24, 2016
He later told reporters that while he gave an example of a $2 toll, staff would still need to do some work on what the tolls would look like, if council decides to move forward, and the price could be lower or higher.
While the mayor is in favour of a tax on hotel room stays, he is opposed to recommended resurrection of the vehicle registration tax, a parking levy and a major hike on property taxes.
With files from Tiffany Hendsbee and Justine Lewkowicz