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Two city councillors will be tabling a motion next week seeking to take control of the new LRT lines away from the province.

The motion, submitted by Joe Mihevc and seconded by Gord Perks, calls on city council to adopt the position that the future LRT lines on Shepperd, Finch and Eglinton, as well as the Scarborough LRT project, be controlled by the Toronto Transit Commission.

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The motion is scheduled to be on the agenda for the Oct. 2 city council meeting.

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Earlier this week, Metrolinx, the province’s transit agency, announced it would be taking over the operation and maintenance of the lines. The motion was filed because the councillors feel Metrolinx isn’t cut out for the job. “If we’re going to deliver high quality transit to Torontonians, then the TTC needs to do it,” said Mr. Perks. “The province isn’t capable.”

The motion appears to have prompted a sharp response from the Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation. A statement from Bob Chiarelli implied that any more second-guessing by city politicians would only stall negotiations that are well underway.