A spark of optimism from Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow in her quest to secure desperately needed federal funding for things like the growing housing crisis, transit and the massive budget deficit following a series of meetings in Ottawa.
Chow spent the last two days in the nation’s capital, painting a grim picture of the city’s crippling finances and the desperate need for funding when it comes to an overflowing shelter system, a refugee crisis, a lack of transit and affordable housing, along with a $1.5 billion budget gap. Chow says she believes momentum is building and that Ottawa understands the city’s dire situation.null
“There were a lot of nodding of heads, there were a lot of listening,” said Chow.
“I tried to capture what the tenants are going through now in the city of Toronto and said we need immediate help now. The positive thing is that they didn’t say no. They are thinking about it.”
City council recently approved new revenue tools, including a city-specific sales tax or receiving a percentage of the HST. While Premier Doug Ford is not in favour of those types of cash grabs, the province has agreed to form a working group to help Toronto find solutions.
Chow campaigned on making funding deals with Queen’s Park and Ottawa and since taking office in July, it’s been full steam ahead, including a sit down on Friday with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland. And while no checks have been written and there’s no immediate cash flow in sight, Chow is hoping this will be the beginning of a productive dialog.
“I am optimistic,” she said. “I do what I do because I am optimistic.”
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