A change in government inevitably comes with a change in priorities. Could a change after the Oct. 21 election mean big cuts to the city of Toronto?

The Star has counted more than $7.5 billion in existing federal funding pledges to the city over the next 10 years, ranging from nearly $5 billion allocated to major expansions to the city’s public transit network to $400,000 for neighbourhood police officers.

The Star asked each of the major opposition parties to confirm their commitment to follow through with these pledges. We received a detailed statement from the NDP; Tim Grant, the Green candidate for University-Rosedale, responded on behalf of his party; and the Conservatives did not directly respond to the Star’s questions.

Andrew Scheer’s party on Oct. 11 unveiled a platform that commits to “maintain all projects committed to by the Liberal Government.”

The platform promises more than $35 billion in spending cuts, including a plan to spread the Liberals’ funding for infrastructure programs over 15 years from the current 12-year plan — a cut of more than $18 billion over that period. The party says those funding delays will only impact uncommitted spending.

Mayor John Tory on Tuesday said any delay in infrastructure funding is “not in the best interest of the city of Toronto and is not in the best interest of cities across Canada.” Money spent on infrastructure produces “huge returns for cities,” he said, adding he’d “like to be able to convince (the Conservatives) this is not a position they should be taking.”

Speaking to the Star from Copenhagen last week, Tory said he was “a little worried” that Scheer has not specifically promised to honour the Liberal government’s commitments on affordable housing, noting that the city is already “hard at work” using the $1.3 billion Ottawa committed to repair Toronto Community Housing units earlier this year.

The city is closely monitoring the parties’ pledges to prepare for the impact of the election, the mayor said.

Here are Ottawa’s current funding obligations to the city of Toronto:

Public transit

$866 million to the TTC over five years via the Federal Gas Tax Fund: The federal government allocates this money to municipalities on a per capita basis. The city received $169 million in 2019 and is budgeting for $1.8 billion over the next 10 years, but the current agreement expires in 2023.

$4.9 billion for major transit expansions via phase 2 of the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund: This money is committed to the city using a formula based on public transit ridership (70 per cent) and population (30 per cent). Federal commitments include: $585 million to the mayor’s SmartTrack plan; $500 million for improvements to Bloor-Yonge Station; and $660 million for the Scarborough subway extension. The rest, more than $3 billion, has not yet been allocated.

As of March, the city was still due $207 million for transit improvements via phase 1 of the fund.

What the parties say:

The Conservatives did not respond to detailed questions. The party’s platform commits to “maintain all projects committed to by the Liberal Government.” It specifically commits to fund the Ontario Line and Yonge Subway Extension projects and says it will “maintain all statutory spending such as the Gas Tax Fund.”

The NDP says it will honour existing commitments and “will ensure that the City of Toronto gets the steady level of federal funding it needs to maintain existing operations and expand public transit.” Specifically, the party says it is committed to renewing the gas tax funding agreement after 2023 and will significantly increase public transit investment.

The Green party is committed to honouring existing commitments, Grant said. He added that Ottawa’s existing funding commitments to Toronto “reflect Green party priorities,” with some caveats in emphasis and design. Grant said the party will make federal public transit infrastructure funding permanent.

The Liberals have pledged to add an additional $3 billion a year in stable public transit funding nationally, on top of the federal gas tax transfers.

Housing and homelessness

$1.3 billion over nine years to Toronto Community Housing via the National Housing Strategy: The federal government made this pledge in April, responding to the city’s request for help to repair and renew TCH’s crumbling social housing properties.

$124 million over five years in homelessness funding via Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy: Ottawa committed this money to the city in April, directing it to homelessness and housing supports.

What the parties say:

The Conservative platform commits to “maintain all projects committed to by the Liberal Government.”

The NDP says it will honour existing commitments to TCH and will fold them into a replacement for the National Housing Strategy, which the party has sharply criticized. The party promises $5 billion in additional funding for affordable housing nationally in its first year and a half in government.

The Greens will honour existing commitments to TCH, Grant said. The party is also pledging to invest $750 million each in funding for new-build housing and rental assistance nationally.

The Liberals are promising an additional $15 million a year for affordable housing units for veterans.

Refugees and asylum seekers

A projected $77 million annually for temporary housing for refugees and asylum claimants, via funding offsets: The federal government has been giving the city money to offset the cost of providing shelter for refugees and asylum claimants. The city projects a cost of $76.9 million annually, starting in 2020. The city received $45 million in 2019 and $26 million in 2018.

$17 million to co-ordinate a regional response to the influx of refugees and asylum claimants, via the Interim Housing Assistance Program: In August, Ottawa committed to fund a project to receive refugees and asylum seekers and transport them to neighbouring cities, if necessary.

What the parties say:

The Conservatives did not respond to detailed questions about this funding.

The NDP says it will honour existing commitments to offsetting the cost of housing refugees and asylum claimants and will go further, saying Toronto needs “additional federal support to manage a higher volume of people settling in the city.”

The Green party will honour existing commitments to offset the cost of housing refugees and asylum claimants, Grant said.

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The Liberals made these commitments while in government.

Environment and flood control

A total of $144 million for flood control and erosion projects via the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund: In May 2018, the federal government invited cities to apply for a total of $2 billion in funding for large-scale infrastructure projects to mitigate weather-related disasters. Ottawa has so far approved: $35 million to the Midtown Toronto Relief Storm Sewer project; $73 million to the Fairbank-Silverthorn Storm Sewer project; and nearly $34 million to the Toronto Waterfront Erosion Hazard Mitigation Project

As of March, the city was still due $2.5 million for flood protection and water main projects via the Federal Clean Water and Wastewater Fund.

What the parties say:

The Conservative platform commits to “maintain all projects committed to by the Liberal Government.”

The NDP says it will honour existing commitments and more than double disaster mitigation funding nationally, promising more than $2 billion in further investment.

The Green party will honour existing commitments, Grant said. The party, he said, emphasizes that cities need greater ability to fund themselves. “Cities have to determine what mitigation projects make the most sense for them,” he said.

The Liberals have pledged to add $1 billion to the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund over the next 10 years.

Gun violence

$6.8 million over five years for community crime prevention projects via the Youth Gang Prevention Fund: Ottawa committed to support a peer-support project meant to address the root causes of crime in December. The funding includes $400,000 to Toronto police to enhance its neighbourhood officers program.

$1.5 million in funding to combat gun violence, through Ontario’s Guns, Gangs and Violence Reduction Strategy: This money, promised in August, is part of a $4.5 million payment split equally between the federal, provincial and municipal governments.

What the parties say:

The Conservative platform includes $60 million over five years to fund anti-gang task forces, $30 million over five years for police equipment, and an additional $12 million to the Youth Gang Prevention Fund, all nationally.

The NDP says it will honour existing commitments to crime prevention projects. The party is also committing to investing $100 million nationally over five years to fund programs to deter young people from joining gangs.

The Green party will honour existing commitments, Grant said, adding: “Community investments in young people are a core part of the Green Platform.”

The Liberals have promised an additional $250 million over five years in funding to cities to combat gang violence.

Waterfront Toronto

$416 million directly to Waterfront Toronto, via the Government of Canada Investing In Canada Plan Phase 2: In May 2018, the city, the province and the federal government committed to equally split the $1.2-billion cost of the Port Lands Flood Protection and Enabling Infrastructure Project, with money going directly to Waterfront Toronto.

What the parties say:

The Conservative platform commits to “maintain all projects committed to by the Liberal Government.”

The NDP says it will maintain, at minimum, the current level of funding. The party says it will act in good faith as an equal partner in Waterfront Toronto and says it will ensure the redevelopment includes affordable housing.

The Green party is committed to Waterfront Toronto and will honour existing commitments, Grant said.

The Liberals made these commitments while in government.

With files from David Rider, Ben Spurr, Emily Mathieu and Jennifer Pagliaro

Ed Tubb is an assignment editor and a contributor to the Star’s coverage of the 2019 federal election. He is based in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @edtubb

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