TORONTO

Mayor John Tory said thanks but no thanks to David Crombie’s Gardiner Expressway advice.

Tory confirmed Tuesday that he won’t reverse his support for the Gardiner hybrid despite the plea from the former mayor — who endorsed Tory in the last election — to support removing the east end of the elevated expressway. Hours later, two Tory allies — Budget Chief Gary Crawford and Parks committee chair Michelle Berardinetti — endorsed the costlier hybrid option as the “fiscally responsible” and environmentally-friendly choice.

“These are very difficult issues but I have a responsibility as the present mayor of Toronto to try and balance a whole lot of considerations including the aesthetics of how we plan out the city, but also the economy and jobs and moving people around the city,” Tory said.

“I came to a very difficult conclusion but one that I believed was sensible and rational and practical and, from the context of my job, which is as the present mayor of Toronto.”

The current mayor says he admires the “tiny, perfect mayor” greatly.

“But that doesn’t mean we’re going to agree on every single issue, every single day,” Tory said.

Asked about Crombie’s comments declaring that he is “tragically wrong” on the Gardiner, he shrugged.

“Everybody has their own perspective on these things,” Tory said. “I have to stand here in 2015 as the mayor of Toronto and do what I think is best for jobs and the economy.”

Tory pointed out that an industry coalition including CAA and the Ontario Trucking Association has launched a campaign in support of the hybrid.

“That’s why we have a debate, I’m delighted Mr. Crombie is taking part in it and we’ll go forward and try to make the best decision we can as a city council,” he said.

Councillor Gord Perks stressed consultants have concluded “taking the Gardiner down creates more jobs and is better for the economy.

“The mayor is entitled to his own opinion, not his own facts,” Perks said.

In a press conference at City Hall, Crawford argued the more expensive hybrid was “fiscally responsible” while Berardinetti said it was “the right thing to do for our environment.

“By any estimation removing the Gardiner East will lead to increased traffic congestion. Whether it is (an increase of) three minutes, five minutes or 10 minutes, it is more people sitting in their cars, people sitting in their trucks and stuck in traffic and idling,” she said.

“Climate change is a real threat to our city and excessive greenhouse gas emissions produced from idling threaten our environment.”

Councillor Joe Cressy was baffled by Berardinetti’s claim.

“The parks and environment chair is claiming that elevated expressways are the environmentally-sustainable option — that would be rather twisted logic,” he said.

The report on the Gardiner options predicts the remove option would have 12% less greenhouse gas emissions compared to the hybrid.

don.peat@sunmedia.ca