This morning’s city council meeting had an amusing point of order, which objected to how little disagreement there was. “We’ve only haggled over one issue!” That one issue, dependably divisive, was TTC funding. Though nothing practical came of it, today’s talk indicates that many councillors still believe that the massive TTC expansion we desperately need can be considerably funded with existing money.
Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday proposed an amendment to a motion involving Section 37 funds that would allow that money – collected from developers in exchange for building denser or taller than zoning permits – to be used partially for TTC expansion. Section 37 money is designated for community benefits, and Holyday wondered aloud what exactly constitutes a “community.” He waxed philosophical, saying that everyone in the community benefits from the TTC whether you live in Scarborough or downtown. “The general benefit isn’t limited to the general area.” He said that it’s not as if TTC funding will arrive from one source in one lump sum, and so a report should be carried out so see if perhaps some of this money could be used for the TTC. If there’s money lying around it may as well be used, at least partially, where it’s most effective, and why not have a report see if this is possible? He called it a “creative solution.”
Councillor Filion objected to the amendment on grounds that the money is set aside for amenities that are strictly for the local community, like childcare and parks, and not for broader use. It was set out for this deliberately upon amalgamation. Pointedly, he said this motion perpetuates the myth that it’s possible to have expanded TTC without paying for it, and that amendments like these do a tremendous disservice.
Councillor Matlow seconded Filion, as “thirty seconds of research on [his] iPhone” found that the planning act clearly states in article 2.4 that in Section 37, “the priority location for community benefits should be on-site or in the local area.” Different councillors called Holyday’s proposed amendment busy work under their breath, a view Matlow shared. “With all due respect, read the planning act and you’ll know the answer to the report Holyday is seeking.”
While on the surface it’s hard to begrudge a councillor for trying to use whatever revenue is available for what we all agree is a most worthy cause, the money in Section 37 is decidedly unavailable. It suggests desperation and a stubborn refusal to look the facts about the larger picture squarely in the face. Yet even though Holyday’s amendment didn’t pass, the vote was close at 20 to 16. This is worrying. It isn’t today’s specific motion that’s important, it’s that the assumptions underpinning it need to be overturned. The TTC cannot expand on the scale required without outside funds.
That the vote was close at all is reasonable evidence that either many councillors think that the funds for TTC expansion are already here if only we look hard enough, or that they think voters will be outraged at the prospect of more taxes. This view should be contrasted against this week’s statement from the Toronto Region Board of Trade, which recommended four possible new taxes to be used for public transit expansion. This is a business lobby group, the kind that normally oppose taxes. Nobody wants to pay taxes, but nobody is happy that our economy loses $6 billion a year due to gridlock. The impasse cannot go on.
Recent articles ask if Toronto is having an “LA moment,” while others go as far as answering that question in the affirmative–yes, Torontonians would pay more money in taxes if they could be certain it would lead to improved transit that is direly needed. But while many citizens and pundits agree that there’s only one possible answer, council doesn’t seem convinced.
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Jeff Halperin is a Toronto-based writer. You can follow him on Twitter @JDhalperin.
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