Toronto mayoral debate: Transit dominates agenda as candidates face off

Transit and transportation emerged as major themes as Toronto's mayoral hopefuls squared off in a debate at a seniors' facility in North York hosted by the National Congress of Italian-Canadians on Tuesday evening.

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The debate between Rob Ford, John Tory and Olivia Chow kicked off at 7 p.m. ET.

It was initially reported that candidate David Soknacki was unable to attend, but Soknacki announced he was dropping from the race while the debate was still underway.

• David Soknacki quits Toronto mayoral race

All three mayoral candidates touched on transit throughout the two-hour debate, but Ford and Chow repeatedly took aim at Tory's SmartTrack transit plan.

Chow accused Tory of flip-flopping on how exactly the system would be built.

"First he said you don't need to tunnel, and then maybe now it needs to tunnel," she said.

Chow added that the airport rail link shouldn't cost riders any more than $20, and said the downtown subway relief line should be a priority.

We need partnership with the provincial government and subways that relief line is the top priority for TTC," she said.

Chow said the city needs immediate improvements, and can't afford to wait 10 years for better transit.

"Our city is at a crossroads," she said. "We need a change of direction ... We need a mayor that will invest now. We need to invest now."

'We've got to take a bold step'

Throughout the evening, Tory repeatedly touted his SmartTrack plan, for which he unveiled a new website and television ad earlier Tuesday.

I think weve got to take the bold step, and the bold step is to build SmartTrack," he said.

"My plan includes every element of transportation there can be. It does include buses ... it includes subways, both in Scarborough and the downtown relief line ... and it includes LRTs."

Tory urged the provincial government to step in with funding to help solve the traffic "nightmare" in Toronto.

Ford, meanwhile, asked voters to look at his track record for proof that he'll deliver on his campaign promises.

• Mayoral candidate John Tory unveils transit plan

• Rob Ford unveils subway-heavy transit plan

"Is this city better than it was four years ago? Absolutely," he said.

Ford continued to talk up his subway-heavy transit plan.

"Folks, subways are the way to go. Not digging up the middle of Eglinton, not digging up Sheppard and Finch. Not needing 'revenue tools' that's a code word for taxes, by the way," he said.

"We're on fire. This city is booming right now. Are you gonna go back, or are you going to go forward?"

The candidates also weighed in the citys so-called raccoon issue, laying out a variety of solutions from educating members of the public to stop feeding the animals to better lids on garbage plans.

Toronto voters head to the polls on Oct. 27.