I'm strongly opposed to the…

I'm strongly opposed to the proposed removal of bike lanes on Bloor Street, Yonge Street, and University Avenue as outlined in Bill 212. These bike lanes are vital infrastructure that benefit all road users and play a critical role in making Toronto’s streets safer, more accessible, and more sustainable. They are also good for local businesses. Think of any neighbourhood first as a place for people to live in, not an obstacle that a car has to be able to drive through as fast as possible. Removing bike lanes, and even sidewalks since we're at it, won't be able to accomodate all the traffic needed if we all decide to drive. If you really want to solve congestion in big cities invest in public transit, a good network of bike lanes, and establish flexible tolls on roads and a congestion charge downtown.

The requirement that municipalities seek provincial approval to allow for the implementation of new bicycle lanes that require the removal of an existing lane of traffic is a blatant overreach by the provincial government into matters that should solely reside with the municipalities. If this is not savage micromanagement and rampant red tape I don't know what else is.

Highway 413 won’t solve congestion, instead making it worse. The Greenbelt lands are vital for protecting our air, water, and wildlife. They also add to the quality of life of the many Ontarians who like to enjoy spending time in nature. The solution to getting people around from places far from major urban centres to the downtowns of major cities such as Toronto should rely on a solid and sustainable backbone of public transit. Unlocking new lands for suburban sprawl is a solution that does not scale as evidenced by the gridlock that this bill will not in the end reduce.

I would like to invite the Ford government to go back to the future and leave the 1970s behind. That model for urban development has reached the end of the road. As per the famous line: "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."