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Maurizio Bevilacqua, Mayor of Vaughan, population 288,000

Mr. Bevilacqua called the Board of Trade recommendations a “good starting point” for a discussion. “I believe that transit is definitely the priority in the Greater Toronto Area but, as always, funding tools are the challenge. We can only move forward if there is consensus.”

Steve Parish, Mayor of Ajax, population 110,000

The sales tax and the fuel tax stand out to Mr. Parish as the best of the four tools proposed in terms of revenue-raising ability. But he cautioned that Durham needs to get its “fair share” of the service improvements, noting that the perception in Durham is that it is not. “If you want to solve the problem of gridlock, you have to agree with new revenue sources.”

Susan Fennell, Mayor of Brampton, population 520,000

She is opposed to all of the revenue tools proposed by the Board of Trade, and is “shocked” that the business chamber would be suggesting higher taxes. “Why, in Ontario, does the province divorce itself from the fiscal responsibility of paying for transit solutions that end gridlock and improve the economic competitiveness of the GTA? The provincial budget has the capacity to dedicate and prioritize within their own budget to achieve this.”

Dave Barrow, Mayor of Richmond Hill, population 185,000

Mr. Barrow believes all four tools proposed by the Board of Trade have to be considered, but he said the parking levy will be a hard sell in the 905. “We don’t pay for parking anywhere,” he said. However, if the money the residents put in results in the extension of the Yonge subway line to Richmond Hill, “I would say the majority of people would sense that is something they would pay for.”