TORONTO — The Ontario government is moving ahead with a plan to take over Toronto’s subway system, appointing a special adviser to help develop the best approach for the move.
The province says Michael Lindsay and an advisory panel of up to three experts will craft recommendations on the building and maintenance of new and existing subway lines, among other issues.
The government says Lindsay will not be paid for his role as special adviser.
Premier Doug Ford, who promised during the spring election campaign to create a regional transportation system, has said uploading Toronto’s subway system to the province would benefit the city.
The Progressive Conservative election platform also promised to allow the city to operate the subway system and keep the revenue it generates.
Mayor John Tory has said any proposal for controlling the Toronto Transit Commission must be subjected to “robust consultation,” adding that the province can’t create such a plan unilaterally, like it did in announcing it would slash city council by nearly half.
Ford has said the TTC has done well in operating the system, but he believes others can build subways more efficiently.
“The Toronto subway system is critical for the economic success of the region,” the provincial government said in a statement Friday.
“An upload of the subway would help the province to implement a more efficient regional transit system, reduce costs and build transit faster. It could also allow the province to fund and deliver additional transit projects sooner.”
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