I know about it because I negotiated it. Right out of Flaherty’s office. It was called FLOW and resulted in almost a billion dollars in new federal money aimed at four major transit projects, including extending the Spadina subway line to Vaughan and new investments in York, Brampton and Mississauga.
That deal worked because of another relationship — with provincial finance minister Greg Sorbara. Unlikely allies, in fact they collaborated on a number of vital files for Ontario from corporate tax harmonization to transit. And like most political deals, it began with a quiet conversation.
Following a federal-provincial meeting of finance ministers in Vancouver, Sorbara and Flaherty had a final private chat in a small room off to the side of the conference centre. I joined together with Sorbara’s chief of staff, Diane Flanagan. Not a long conversation but the two agreed to pursue talks about how to jointly fund transit projects in the GTA. To cut through bureaucracy, the two chiefs were assigned to lead on the discussions.
After they left, Flaherty turned to me, smiled and noted that as a Maritimer, I was used to getting government money for highways and infrastructure. Part compliment and part instruction, I didn’t disagree. I had in fact helped secure federal funding for twinning the Trans-Canada Highway in New Brunswick in another role.
Both finance ministers clearly had an interest in finding a solution. The minority Conservative government in Ottawa was working on its second budget and could find itself in an election at any time; and the majority Liberal government in Ontario needed to show progress on outstanding GTA transit demands. Convenient or not, it worked. And, as the discussions ensued, both ministers wielded their political clout and determination to forge an agreement. Without either, it simply would not have happened.
While any negotiation has its tense times, this one was as amicable and professional as could be in my experience. In less than three months it was done. The announcement was attended by premier Dalton McGuinty and Prime Minister Stephen Harper, signalling its significance to the GTA and the public value of co-operation. All three levels of government, including the City of Toronto, played their part, something the premier and mayor today should perhaps remember.
Governments need to be cautious about throwing higher taxes around in their quest for shiny, new things. A province-wide HST hike aimed at funding more Toronto public transit will be more divisive than their proponents think. But, as the FLOW episode shows, politicians and governments of different stripes can and do work well together when circumstances arise and relationships flourish.
Respectfully, Premier Wynne might want to take some advice from a Maritimer when it comes to building more public transit in Toronto. Her local, federal finance minister in Whitby is a better ally than enemy. Just ask Greg Sorbara.
Original Article
Source: thestar.com
Author: David McLaughlin
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