The Province of Ontario announced in its new budget Thursday there will be cuts to funds slated for Toronto transit lines that, according to Toronto’s Mayor David Miller, could threaten preparations for the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games.
The Toronto Star reports the mayor noted he and Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty promised Pan Am officials that new transit lines would be ready to move athletes, officials and spectators at the Pan Am Games.
Pan Am Games organizers were promised that all venues would be accessible by rapid transit as part of Toronto’s winning bid, but the province’s latest budget puts an end to that, said the mayor.
In an effort to save $4 billion, the provincial government’s new budget cuts will delay some Light Rail Transit lines – lines needed to access some Pan Am sites, reports the Toronto Sun.
Mayor Miller added, “the Pan American Games will be severely hurt. We promised all venues will be on rapid transit. The PASO (Pan American Sporting Organization) will have something to say about this”.
Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan told a press conference that planned transit lines that have been considered essential to the games will be given priority. He said, “the ones that are key to the Pan Am Games are going to go, as I understand it, on schedule. We’re going to work with Metrolinx to ensure those that are needed most quickly continue on, and the others are still going to continue on, just over a longer period of time”.
Ian Troop, CEO of Toronto 2015, told GamesBids.com “we’ll continue to work with the province and Metrolinx to ensure they have an understanding of Games transportation needs. As their directions are confirmed Toronto 2015 will be able to develop specific Games plans”.
