Layton Report

Providing cities with stable, reliable funding.  That's the message Jack Layton brought to Toronto Monday as he announced his party's plan for better, greener transit.

"Better public transit is a critical need all across Canada."Layton said.  "Provinces and cities are doing their best, but need support and leadership from the Prime Minister.  Stephen Harper won't do it.  I will."

Listen to Amber Gero's Report.

The New Democrats' 4-year plan would dedicate one cent per litre of the federal gas tax to public transit.  That would equal $400 million every year.

The plan would also put the money raised by the sale of carbon permits directly into green transit solutions.

"This investment is funded directly from the sale of carbon permits and that means the big polluters will be funding more transit.  That's how you get results for the environment, get a greener transit system and a much better community."said Layton.

The money gathered from the carbon permits would equal about $350 million a year.

City Councillor and TTC Vice Chair Joe Mihevc applauded the plan, saying it would provide the sustainable transit funding Toronto needs to be able to move forward with it's Transit City plan.

Toronto would stand to gain $840 million under the 4-year plan.