Miller Spends Money He Doesn't Have....What's New

City, feds seek answer to streetcars

Clock ticking on deal

By ANTONELLA ARTUSO, QUEEN'S PARK BUREAU CHIEF

Toronto and the federal government are saying "let's make a deal" as the Bombardier streetcar proposal nears the end of the track.

The $1.2-billion purchase of 204 low-floor streetcars has been rejected as a candidate for funding under the federal government's Infrastructure Stimulus fund.

Officials are now looking for other city capital projects, already approved and planned for future years, that could be moved up and funded through the federal program, freeing up funds for the Bombardier deal. The TTC has until Saturday to seal the deal.

MCGUINTY KICKS IN

In Thunder Bay last Friday, Premier Dalton McGuinty put up his $416-million share of the $1.2-billion project, and Mayor David Miller pledged $355 million.

All eyes then turned to the Stephen Harper government for the remaining $439 million in funding.

Bombardier spokesman David Slack said yesterday the company has received no request from Toronto for an extension of the deadline.

"We're still doing everything we can to find a way to make this happen," Don Wanagas, a spokesman for Miller, said yesterday.

ACTIVELY WORKING

Chris Day, a spokesman for Transport and Infrastructure Minister John Baird, said the feds are actively working with Toronto to make sure the city gets its fair share of the federal stimulus funds.

"We are in contact with the city and are talking about ready-to-go stimulus project," Day said.

A source familiar with the negotiations said no one wants to be blamed for the deal falling through.

According to Bombardier, the streetcar proposal would create 15,000 direct and indirect jobs in Ontario over the life of the 10-year contract, with 4,500 of those positions in the GTA.

How Toronto's streetcar deal can be saved By SUN MEDIA While the municipal workers' strike has everyone pre-occupied at City Hall, there's a fast-approaching deadline Mayor David Miller can't ignore.