City Overhaul Proposed in Toronto

Experts are calling for a major revision to the city operations of Toronto, suggesting the creation of region-wide toll roads, increased taxes and

1 minute read

February 22, 2008, 11:00 AM PST

By Nate Berg


"A panel of independent experts is suggesting a revolutionary overhaul of the city of Toronto's operations, including higher residential property taxes, a parking lot tax, regional road tolls, selling of surplus city lands, improving city worker productivity and raises for some politicians.

The report released this morning by the six-member panel recommends:

* Trading the Don Valley Parkway and the Gardiner Expressway to the province in exchange for a share of regional road tolls;

* Getting the province to provide $200 million of annual funding and long-term, stable financing to Canada's most populous city;

* Selling off some of the city's estimated $18 billion in real estate assets to help slash its debt load;

* Giving pay hikes to members of city council's powerful executive committee."

Thursday, February 21, 2008 in The Toronto Star

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