[URBAN NOTE] "Toronto city council to have transit tax debate"

[rfmcdonald]

CityNews' Erin Criger is just one person among many to note that Toronto city council will be debating a transit tax notwithstanding the mayor's attempted veto. Rob Ford isn't doing well out of this, while conversely, TTC chair Karen Stintz is doing well. Stintz for mayor, perhaps?

Toronto city councillors overruled Mayor Rob Ford’s executive committee on Tuesday, voting to have a transit tax debate before the Metrolinx deadline passes.

The motion passed 27-13. It’s not yet clear when the debate will be held, but it will be during this council session. The session could run until Thursday.

“Thank you to all members of Council for allowing the important debate on revenue tools to happen,” TTC chair Karen Stintz tweeted after the vote.

Coun. Mike Layton agreed, tweeting, “Despite the mayors attempt to silence us, City Council votes 27-13 to have a critical debate about transit revenue tools.”

Last month, Ford’s executive committee voted to defer the transit tax debate until May 28 – the day after Metrolinx presents its report to the province on proposed revenue tools.

The deferment meant Toronto could have been shut out of a provincial conversation. However, Tuesday’s vote means the taxes and other funding tools will be discussed.