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January 16th, 2014

Toronto New Democrats urge feds to pitch-in for ice storm clean-up

In the wake of Toronto’s devastating ice storm, NDP MPs from Toronto are calling on the federal government to work with the Province of Ontario to help the City of Toronto recover from the storm.

“The ice storm left hundreds of thousands in Toronto without power during the holidays,” said MP Andrew Cash, the NDP’s GTA Caucus chairperson. “The federal government, which has been silent up until now, should do its part and commit to work with the province to provide relief funding for Canada’s biggest city.”

The storm began on December 21st and lasted over a week, affecting over 300,000 households in the GTA as frozen branches knocked out power lines throughout the city. The ice also wreaked havoc on Toronto’s roads and ruined travel plans at the nation’s busiest transit hub.

“Many Torontonians were left out in the cold during the storm and we should not leave the financial burden of the clean-up solely on their shoulders,” said NDP Municipalities critic Olivia Chow (Trinity-Spadina).

The City has pegged the total cost of the clean-up at $106 million and has asked the federal and Ontario provincial governments to assist with funding. The total cost to the GTA economy, which comprises ten percent of Canada’s GDP, has not been established.