TORONTO, September 26, 2003 -- Toronto's need for improved transit, housing and social services tops the list of election issues this week and it comes as no surprise to Harvey Schwartz, economics professor at York University. "Toronto needs a major transfusion before it goes bankrupt," he says.
Schwartz warns that although both the federal and provincial governments have promised some money for capital projects such as transit improvements, it will not be enough to offset increasing wage and debt-servicing costs or prevent further service cuts. "Toronto is no longer self-sufficient," he says.
At a conference in Cambridge, England earlier this month, Schwartz told international scholars the province's amalgamation of Toronto's municipalities and "downloading" of services resulted in higher costs and service cuts despite assurances the exercise would be revenue-neutral. Schwartz also said the province passed laws that limit the city's ability to find new revenues, making it unable to sustain itself going into the 21st Century.
Schwartz is one of several York faculty members who are speaking out on issues in the run-up to the provincial election on Oct. 2 and the municipal vote on Nov. 10. A list of York U. commentators is available on the York University web site at www.yorku.ca/mediar
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