A member of the provincial transit agency Metrolinx says he's worried that Mayor Rob Ford's continued push for subways will cause the province to pull billions of dollars off the table.

"My concern is that we have a mayor that doesn't want to take yes for an answer," said member Douglas Turnbull.

Last week council voted in favour of a light-rail plan, but Ford continues to push for subways. Turnbull says it's a false debate between an LRT system and "subways that just can't be built."

"A window is going to slam closed on us just because of fiscal challenges, as laid out by the Drummond commission yesterday," he said.

Economist Don Drummond released his long-awaited report Wednesday outlining the wide-ranging cuts needed for Ontario to balance its budget by 2018.

Metrolinx CEO Rob Pritchard knows time is tight but says he's not concerned.

"I have never heard a single person at the highest reaches of the province indicate any wavering in its commitment to the $8.4 billion," Pritchard said.

The light-rail-focused proposal brought forward by Toronto Transit Commission chair Karen Stintz, which was approved by council earlier this month, calls for a light-rail line on Finch Avenue West, while moving ahead with the Eglinton Crosstown LRT development, but keeping its eastern stretch above ground.

Her proposal took Sheppard Avenue off the table for now, while an advisory panel reviews options for transit there. An expert panel will meet three times beginning Thursday to look at those options.

Then council will vote next month on the entire plan, including whatever is decided for Sheppard.

A final recommendation will go to the province once council makes its decision.