December 19, 2013 - 10:48 AM
TORONTO - Ontario's Progressive Conservatives say they would freeze implementation of full-day kindergarten and sell off government buildings to help fund public transit.
Opposition Leader Tim Hudak says there is no need to hike taxes to generate money to expand transit and help ease gridlock, while the Liberals are leaning towards an increase in the gasoline tax.
The Tories would create a $2 billion a year trust for transit that would be funded by changing spending priorities such as stopping the expansion of full-day kindergarten.
All-day education for four-and five-year-olds, which cost about $1.5 billion a year, is offered at 2,600 schools and will be fully implemented at 3,600 schools by next fall.
Hudak says the Tories would also sell surplus government lands and buildings, including the Liquor Control Board of Ontario headquarters and the Ontario Power Generation head office in downtown Toronto.
He also says the province should remove any barrier to commercializing the land along transportation corridors for commercial and residential real estate.
The Conservatives' 15th white paper, which focuses on building better cities, calls for expanding and extending Highways 427 and 404 in Toronto and Highway 7 between Kitchener and Guelph.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2013