TORONTO – The debate on Transit City is yet again taking centre stage at city hall as a special meeting has been called for Wednesday.
The special meeting, called by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) Chair Karen Stintz, is to “decide on a council position as requested by the Chair of Metrolinx,” according to a petition signed by 24 councillors, including Stintz.
The debate on Transit City was reignited after a legal opinion obtained by Toronto councillor Joe Mihevc alleged that Mayor Rob Ford went beyond his legal authority in unilaterally cancelling the controversial program. “[Ford] did not follow the proper procedure for obtaining City council’s authorization to rescind Transit City and develop and approve an alternate plan,” according to the legal opinion.
Ford made a point of cancelling Transit City on his first day in office when he declared, “Ladies and gentlemen, the war on the car stops today… Transit City is over,” alleging that subways were a better option for Toronto than the Light-Rail-Transit (LRT) system approved by Transit City. Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday told Global News on Monday that “over the long run, over the long, long run, subways are your best bet.”
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