GTA politicians in the 905 say Toronto’s decision to push a toll on the Gardiner Expressway and the Don Valley Parkway, which are used heavily by 905 residents, is, at the very least, disappointing because there was no consultation, and, at worst, a move that will enrage commuters.

“I think this is a short-sighted solution to Toronto’s problems — they’re literally taxing the 905 to pay for Toronto’s problems,” said Durham Region Chair Roger Anderson.

He said with all the special municipal revenue tools only Toronto has, such as a land-transfer tax, under the Toronto Act, many aren’t being used or are used at rates that don’t capture fair market pricing.

“But they want to keep property taxes so low. A $500,000 house in the 905 pays almost double the property tax that a $500,000 house in Toronto pays,” he noted.

Anderson said tolls will end up hurting Toronto businesses. “I think this is going to backfire.”

Oshawa Mayor John Henry agreed.

“I had no prior heads up until I heard it on the radio this morning,” said Henry, who isn’t happy about the proposed toll of about $2. “Would I support this? No.”

Henry said many Oshawa residents, facing exorbitant hydro bills compared to just a few years ago and other hikes for user fees, are past the tipping point. “There’s just no more money that people have left anymore.”

He warned that Toronto’s business sector will suffer.

“I use the DVP to get to Toronto. I think this will ricochet. For the folks that would have gone to the Eaton Centre, they will stay and shop in Oshawa.”

Oakville Mayor Rob Burton disagreed with his counterpart on the other side of the GTA.

“To my knowledge nobody (from Toronto) contacted my office,” Burton said. Though he pointed to the lack of consultation by Toronto, he said the move is inevitable.

“All over North America governments are resorting to tolls — it’s just a matter of time before it happens here,” he said.

Burton said he only uses the GO Train when travelling into Toronto. “I adopted the practice years ago, rather than sitting in the Don Valley Parkway or Gardiner parking lot. A huge number of our residents use the GO Train.”

Burton said he supports a user-pay approach to covering the costs to maintain the major highways.

“The world divides between people who want to put the cost of running a society on some kind of tax and those, like many economists, who talk about user-pay.”

Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua has a pragmatic view of the Toronto decision.

“The reality is that the City of Toronto has billions of dollars worth of unfunded projects looking for revenue sources,” he said. “Citizens want (Mayor John) Tory to make key strategic investments in infrastructure and transit. The choice is pretty clear you either dramatically raise taxes or move to a user-fee model. He can also seek help from senior levels of government; unfortunately, however, they are facing their own fiscal challenges. To deliver on his promises, he will have to move quickly and decisively. I think that is his plan.”

In neighbouring Mississauga, the country’s sixth largest city, Mayor Bonnie Crombie offered support to Tory, as well as some cautionary advice.

“I support the building of regionally-integrated transit and transportation networks through dedicated funding. Mayor Tory has many tools at his disposal to raise revenues that other cities do not have. He has chosen to implement road tolls that will not only affect residents in his city, but those in the 905 as well,” Crombie said.

“It’s important that Mayor Tory understand the ramifications of his actions on business and tourism. However, as Toronto owns the Gardiner and DVP, he is free to impose these tolls without input from his neighbours in the 905,” she added.

“I would caution him, though, that he must ensure that every penny of the money collected is reinvested into the repairs of the Gardiner and DVP, as well as into regionally-integrated transit projects that connect the 905 and the 416,” Crombie said.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

“Residents need to see that this money is not going into general revenue, but directly into projects that address the dire problem of gridlock and congestion. People simply want to be able to move more quickly and easily around the GTA and any money that is collected must make this happen.”

Meanwhile, the Star went to the start of the Gardiner Expressway, at the border of Mississauga to find out what commuters think of a $2 toll.

Ryan Perry, Toronto resident who works in Mississauga:

“Where’s Rob Ford when you need him. I think it’s a dumb idea. I’m not going to pay $2 to get on for 15 minutes and then turn around and pay another $2 on the way back again. I have to use the Gardiner everyday to get to Mississauga for work. I’m just going to use one of the streets now. That’s what everyone’s going to do.”

Carole Gardner, Brampton resident:

“It just seems to me a way of getting more money out of us. It’s just a tax by another name. It’s just another money grab. We use the Gardiner all the time. What if you are only using it for one exit, like us today (she’s come from Brampton to shop at the Etobicoke Ikea store)?”

Joseph Kalina-Johnson, Toronto resident:

“I agree with it. If it works for everyone I think it’s reasonable. It has to be a reasonable price too. I think $4 (for a return trip) is pretty good, not like the $30 they were trying to charge for the (UPX). As long as it cuts out the congestion, because the congestion is really bad — two bucks is not that bad. I think it will be a good idea, as long as I’m not in traffic, I’ll pay the four bucks. I use the Gardiner all the time, everyday, going downtown, going to Mississauga, Brampton, for work.”

Bill Gardner, Brampton resident:

“Absolutely against it. Where do the revenues from our licensing go, the gas tax that exists, all the other revenues that drivers contribute to? I really feel that the governments are wasting a lot of money, like Ontario Hydro being sold off and prices being so high now. You can avoid the Gardiner by using city streets.”

MORE ON THESTAR.COM

Here’s how people in the GTA are reacting to the mayor’s proposal for tolls on Gardiner, DVP

‘It’s time to build’: John Tory promotes road tolls for Gardiner, DVP

Gardiner, DVP road tolls an ‘idea whose time has come,’ councillors say

Read more about: