Ontario open to uploading costs of Gardiner Expressway and DVP from Toronto, source says

Ontario is open to taking on the City of Toronto's costs related to maintaining the Don Valley Parkway and Gardiner Expressway, a provincial government source said Friday.

The source said discussions about Ontario uploading the busy commuter highways are part of an ongoing working group of provincial and city officials that is hashing out a more sustainable fiscal framework for Toronto, which is facing a $1-billion budget holeand major future financial pressures.

But the source said talks are still in early stages and many options are on the table. The Toronto Star first reported the province may be willing to upload the costs of the highways.

Last year, city staff estimated annual maintenance costs for the two highways adds up to about $16 million peryear, while $2.2 billion has been budgeted over the next 10 years for therehabilitation of the Gardiner.

In an interview with CBC Toronto earlier this month, Mayor Olivia Chow said it would be important to discuss the possibility of Ontario uploading financialresponsibility of the highways.

"Is it fair for the residents of Toronto to pay for highways that are used so much by people living outside the city?" Chow said.

In a statement Friday, the mayor's press secretary saidthat the uploading of responsibility is one of many options being considered bythe working group.

"Ultimately, the goal is financial sustainability," Arianne Robinson said viaemail.

Some councillors support uploading

During the spring mayoral byelection campaign, former city councillor and eventual runner-up Ana Bailopledged to have the province take on the highways' cost if she was elected. While Chow promised to tear down the eastern leg of the Gardiner Expressway during the campaign, she recently told CBC Toronto she's pumping the brakes on that plan until negotiations with the province are completed.

Coun. Chris Moise told reporters Friday that he supported the move. He said it could help free up dollars for social services or other infrastructure.

"It's not the only solution, but it definitely is part of the solution to a bigger problem," he said.

Coun. Paula Fletcher said the provincial government used to own the roads but downloaded them to the city under Premier Mike Harris, who was in office from 1995 to 2002.

"We have these big white elephants that are used by people throughout the province and I think it would be great if they took them back," she said.