Toronto Mayor Rob Ford joined Federal Finance Minister Joe Oliver at the TTC on Bathurst Street this morning to sign a new gas tax deal for Ontario.  “The new permanent gas tax fund is just another example friends, of this ongoing partnership with the federal government,” Ford explained.

Finance Minister Oliver announced that more than $8 billion will flow to municipalities in this province under a ten year extension of the gas tax agreement.  “By building stronger communities, safer and more prosperous cities, by modernizing and developing our infrastructure and by supporting measures that help preserve the environment, we are building a better Canada for future generations,” said Oliver.

Oliver also explained that the federal government has doubled the number of eligible investment categories so municipalities can apply their gas tax money to a wider variety of projects.

Ford, who has been a vocal proponent of subways, touted improvements to the trains, planned subway extensions, new buses and accessible transit options but did not mention new streetcars, which are due to be rolled out starting in August.  He left the announcement without taking questions and headed to Toronto City Hall for today’s council meeting.

Unlike the other day when several shirtless protesters showed up at Ford’s news conference on Eglinton Avenue, only one shirtless demonstrator turned out today.  He was not allowed to attend the news conference on TTC property and was restricted to the sidewalk instead.