Calling for a Public Inquiry into the Eglinton LRT Delays
The recent news that the Eglinton Crosstown LRT won’t open until 2024 is yet another disappointing setback for the many Torontonians that live and work along the line, which is a billion dollars over budget and years behind schedule. Communities across the line have endured over 12 years of hardship due to the endless disruptions from construction. Businesses have lost revenues due to lower foot traffic, forcing many to close, while residents have suffered incredible disruption and unmanageable traffic and safety issues.
Despite repeated calls by City Council demanding greater transparency and accountability, Metrolinx refuses to explain the reasons for the repeated delays. In fact, they won’t even provide a forecasted opening date. It is completely unacceptable that residents who need to make critical personal and business decisions be left in the dark and are still stuck waiting for the bus.
That’s why I moved a motion at City Council calling on the province to launch a full public inquiry into the line’s failures, and to appear in front of the City’s executive committee with their findings. When residents of the City have been so profoundly impacted by the failures of government, it is of the utmost importance that Council take a stand to fight. Furthermore, it is of the utmost importance that we don’t repeat the same mistakes with future projects like the Ontario Line and the Eglinton East LRT Extension. I am grateful to my Council colleagues for voting in support of my motion for transparency and accountability at October’s Council.
Fighting Gridlock, and Raising Fines on Curb Hogs
Transit riders, drivers & cyclists are too often blocked by selfish curb hogs stopping in the middle of traffic to grab a coffee. If they don’t care about the rest of us getting to work or school on time, maybe they’ll care about their wallets. The fine is now $300.
This increased fine to reduce congestion for all road users is a long time coming. My friend Mike Layton and I first moved this motion in 2011 to create real consequences for clogging traffic. Let’s get Toronto moving. Click this link or the image below to watch my remarks at council.
Automated Enforcement for Drivers who Fail to Stop at Open Streetcar Doors
The failure of vehicles to stop for pedestrians entering and exiting TTC streetcars is a serious and ongoing issue, exemplified by a recent incident where a rider was hit by a car that failed to stop for a disembarking streetcar along College street on September 8, 2024. Unfortunately, this issue is difficult to enforce without automation given the scale of streetcar service and frequency of stops. Despite the TTC streetcars running with active external cameras since 2019, the TTC has not proceeded with automated camera enforcement for motorists who fail to stop for open streetcar doors. It’s time that we levied stronger penalties for drivers who take the lives of pedestrians in their hands when they recklessly speed past streetcars.
That’s why I moved a motion at the September TTC requesting that the TTC approve automated ticketing enforcement for motorists that fail to stop for open streetcar doors, and report back to the October TTC Board meeting with implementation plan. Thanks to TTC Commissioner Chris Moise for seconding the motion and to my Board colleagues who voted in favour of it. The TTC will be working on implementing the program and will be expected to report back to the TTC Board’s October meeting with next steps.
Doug Ford Destroys 800 Mature Trees at Ontario Place
Last week, Doug Ford’s provincial government ordered work crews to chop down 800 trees under the cover of darkness at Ontario Place. Residents woke up to see confused birds circling the now clear cut island. This callous destruction was only allowed to move forward because the province exempted itself from the Environmental Assessment process that would usually apply to large projects in sensitive environmental areas.
This is the most brazen step yet that Ford has taken toward building his billion dollar Austrian mega spa that is privatizing a cherished piece of our waterfront.
This past month it was also revealed that the lease agreement with Therme, the Austrian Corporation that received the spa contract, will be charged minimal rent on a 95 year lease despite the public spending hundreds of millions for site preparation and a giant parking lot to facilitate the project. If that wasn’t enough, documents also showed that as part of the agreement Therme has had a stage pipe reoriented so that it will now dump raw sewage into a portion of the lake popular with swimmers and rowers.
For more information, please see this article: "Ford government draws public criticism for destruction of Ontario Place tree grove"
To fight back against Ford’s destruction of Ontario Place, please visit Ontario Place For All’s website: Ontario Place for All – Say Yes to Public Space and No to a Private Spa at Ontario Place!
Accountability Demanded for $150 Million Metrolinx Railpath
This summer it was was revealed that Metrolinx charged the City of Toronto $150 million dollars for a 2km extension of the West Toronto Railpath. While the current railpath from Davenport to Dundas, along the UP Express corridor, is well used and should be extended, the cost is completely unreasonable.
That’s why I was pleased to support a motion at Council this week by local Councillor Alejandra Bravo to demand answers on how the cost was approved in the first place and an independent third party review of Metrolinx’s astronomical price tag.
For more information, please see my article in the Toronto Star from earlier this year: Toronto's $150 million walking path is a symptom of a much larger problem
