Comment 82121

By Sigma Cub (anonymous) | Posted October 24, 2012 at 11:34:05

Surveys from the province’s regional transit agency, Metrolinx, obtained by The Globe and Mail under an access to information request, show people in Toronto and Hamilton are opposed to paying new taxes and fees to raise the billions needed to expand regional transportation infrastructure.

The documents include a September, 2011, Environics poll of residents in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton areas that found 70 per cent of the 2,500 surveyed agreed that government “has enough money to improve road conditions and transit; they should not need to further raise taxes or fees.” Twenty-four per cent disagreed with the statement and 6 per cent were undecided.

There was at best tepid support for four specific tax measures – road tolls, a parking levy, a regional sale tax and a gas tax hike – designed to pay for new transit options, estimated at least $2-billion a year for 25 years.

As well, the documents show Metrolinx held focus groups with representatives of 21 regional stakeholder groups, including seven chambers of commerce, for advice on selling tax tools to bankroll major transit programs.

Among their recommendations: Give the public a limited number of realistic funding options and rely on a trusted leader to promote the plan.

In an interview, Metrolinx chief executive officer Bruce McCuaig acknowledged the agency has to step up its efforts to communicate its long-range vision to Greater Toronto and Hamilton residents.

“We need to be doing a better job of explaining those issues,” he said, adding that Metrolinx will be rolling out a high-profile public-education campaign later this fall.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/residents-remain-skeptical-on-metrolinx-funding/article4633703/

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