Toll talk silenced by city council

Toronto council slammed the brakes on talk of road tolls Tuesday.

A majority of councillors voted to kill calls from two councillors to have municipal officials study road tolls.

“I cannot support tolls,” insisted Mayor Rob Ford. “It hurts the economy; it hurts people that come to our city to work ... it causes congestion.”

Councillor Josh Matlow had wanted staff to study slapping tolls on out-of-town drivers using the Don Valley Parkway and Gardiner Expressway.

Matlow’s motion lost in a 26-19 vote.

Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday wanted to study the idea of having a private company build toll lanes on the DVP. That motion lost in a 31-14 vote.

Councillor Doug Ford went against his brother the mayor and voted in support of Holyday’s idea.

Matlow, meanwhile, described his toll idea as an answer to Ford’s call for those opposed to cuts to come forward with alternative ideas.

Matlow rejected fears raised by some councillors that tolls would push traffic onto residential streets.