Metrolinx SmartTrack spending sparks accountability demands

Editor’s Note: “We have seen a shift in the landscape since this was originally published, making these points even more critical today. Read it again; you will likely find new layers that you missed before.”

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is urging Ontario’s top watchdog to investigate spending tied to Toronto’s troubled SmartTrack transit plan, arguing that nearly $100 million in public money may have been wasted on stations that will never be built.

In a press release issued February 24^th, 2026, the group called on the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario to examine decisions made by Metrolinx, the provincial agency responsible for planning and delivering regional transit projects across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

The call comes despite recent progress on two long-awaited light-rail projects: the opening of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT in early February, six years behind schedule, and the launch of the Finch West LRT in December 2025. While the projects expand transit access for commuters, critics say they also highlight deeper problems with cost control and project management.

According to the CTF, internal documents show that approximately $97 million was spent on early work for two proposed SmartTrack stations that were later cancelled.

The documents, first reported by the Toronto Star, indicate that tens of millions of dollars went toward planning and preliminary construction work before the projects were scrapped. Roughly $50 million was reportedly spent preparing for the Finch–Kennedy and Liberty–King stations alone.

SmartTrack was originally conceived as a network of five new stations integrated into existing commuter rail lines. The project was delivered through a partnership between Metrolinx and the City of Toronto, with a projected cost of roughly $1.17 billion.

However, rising costs forced city officials to cancel two stations after estimates reportedly climbed more than 50 percent above the original projections.

CTF Ontario Director Noah Jarvis said the situation raises serious questions about how major transit projects are planned and managed. “It’s unacceptable for Metrolinx bureaucrats to blow hundreds of millions on projects that probably won’t even be built. Taxpayers deserve accountability when bureaucrats light our money on fire.”

Jarvis also criticized the reliability of early cost estimates, arguing that repeated overruns undermine public confidence. “Metrolinx shouldn’t be in the business of building things if we can’t get projects built,” he said. “When Metrolinx provides a cost projection, there seems to be no credibility, and nobody is held accountable when they’re wrong.”

The controversy around SmartTrack comes as other large transit projects in the region have faced similar cost escalations. The Eglinton Crosstown LRT, one of the largest transit investments in Ontario, was initially projected to cost $8.2 billion. Final estimates now place the price closer to $13 billion, roughly $4.8 billion over the original budget.

The Finch West LRT has also faced cost increases. Early estimates put the project at $2.5 billion, but final costs have been reported at approximately $3.7 billion, about 50 percent higher than originally expected.

Transit experts often note that large infrastructure projects can face legitimate delays, and cost increases due to design changes, construction challenges, or inflation. However, critics say the scale and frequency of overruns in the region warrant closer scrutiny.

The CTF says a formal investigation by the provincial auditor general would provide independent oversight and help determine how the spending decisions were made. Jarvis argues that a review could clarify whether planning assumptions were flawed, whether cost estimates were unrealistic, or whether governance issues played a role in the cancellations. “Toronto taxpayers can’t afford to be low-balled by bureaucrats while the costs of transit projects soar,” Jarvis said.

For many residents, the stakes extend beyond a single project. Transit infrastructure shapes how millions of people travel to work, school, and services across the Toronto region. Ensuring those projects are delivered efficiently, and transparently, remains a central public concern.

Whether the auditor general will launch a formal review remains unclear, but as billions of dollars continue to flow into new transit lines across the region, pressure for stronger oversight is unlikely to fade.