GraphicMatt
Looking forward to a FRESH START for Toronto
Yet, how come nobody makes the same argument for the rest of Ontario sucking on Toronto's teat?
I think lots of people do. I certainly would.
The money that goes to the feds pays for federal services. And federal services tend to be unevenly distributed. Unless you want fighter bases in the 416, it's quite likely that the spending of federal dollars will always be uneven. Heck, we have also entrenched the uneven distribution of money through programs like the Health and Social transfers, equalization, the various regional economic/development/opportunities agencies, and policies on regional benefits for all major federal projects. It's not just transit. If we are going to discuss funding equality, we'll also have to start discussing our entire federal fiscal and economic framework.
I expect and even support the uneven distribution of federal dollars. It's how it should be.
But it's kind of silly to claim this is about limitation of federal powers or whatever. The federal government would be pledging billions of dollars to transit in Toronto if we had been awarded the Olympics. They could and have contributed. They just choose not to.
And I do plan on taking a stand on the tax issue. I will not vote for any candidate in the upcoming municipal election who pledges to lower taxes. The city can't afford it.