Cost of Toronto mayor’s luxury park could pay for 139,000 shelter beds
Monday, Mar. 8, 2021
Toronto, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on Toronto Mayor John Tory to scrap his unaffordable Rail Deck Park scheme as documents show it would cost the equivalent of 138,616 shelter beds.
“Politicians should only spend our tax money where it’s needed most – not on pet projects,” said Jasmine Moulton, Ontario Director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “Tory’s plan to spend billions on a single luxury park is indefensible while people in this city are homeless and living on the streets.”
Last year, Tory confirmed he still wants to proceed with Rail Deck Park, a project which will be built in the air above the railways on the west side of Union Station. The city estimates the project will cost $1.7 billion, but the Canadian Taxpayers Federation released a report showing that it is more likely to cost at least $3.8 billion.
Responses to freedom of information requests from the city of Toronto reveal that the CTF’s estimated cost of Rail Deck Park is equivalent to the cost of:
- Funding 138,616 shelter beds in Toronto for one year
- Funding 711,342,155 meals served in Toronto city shelters
- About 15 times the total budget for shelter services
“Tory and the rest of city council should be publicly shamed for prioritizing a luxury park pet project above the basic human needs of the city’s homeless population,” said Jasmine Moulton. “It’s time the city of Toronto showed a little respect for taxpayers, and abandoning plans for Rail Deck Park would be a great place to start.”
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Jasmine Moulton
Ontario Director, Canadian Taxpayers Federation
p. 416-573-5458