Miller could sink Transit City: Wynne
By ANTONELLA ARTUSO, QUEEN'S PARK BUREAU CHIEF
Last Updated: May 6, 2010 12:34pm
http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2010/05/06/13847121.html
Toronto Mayor David Miller's prolonged protests over delayed Transit City funding is in danger of "undermining" the whole venture, Ontario Transportation Minister Kathleen Wynne says.
And if a future city council and its mayor should refuse to co-operate with the Transit City plans, Wynne said the entire project could get derailed.
"It's very difficult to imagine a scenario where the City of Toronto and the Mayor are blocking the project and we could still carry on," Wynne said. "My concern is that this kind of opposition can undermine these projects and I really think that would be a shame for the people of Toronto and the Greater Toronto area."
Wynne said Miller has written a letter of protest less than two days after talks began between the city and Metrolinx.
Miller has been highly critical over the provincial government's announcement that it would delay half of the promised Transit City funding in light of the recession and its own massive deficit.
Miller has been on a very public campaign to overturn that decision.
"There's such a lot of confusion and kind of disarray in terms of what's happening," Wynne said.
Some mayoral candidates in this October's election campaign have also expressed concerns about the light rail transit project, suggesting that subways may be the way to go.
The province is funding most of the project with some help from the federal government.