As a small-government…

As a small-government conservative, I strongly oppose this bill because it represents unnecessary provincial overreach into municipal affairs and undermines local autonomy. Municipal governments are closest to their residents and are best equipped to make decisions about local infrastructure, including the installation of bike lanes. Forcing municipalities to seek provincial approval for bike lanes adds layers of bureaucracy, delays, and inefficiency to a process that should be handled at the community level.

The bill also places an undue burden on municipalities by requiring them to submit extensive data and information about existing bike lanes, with the threat of provincial intervention if they don’t comply. This not only diverts valuable municipal resources away from essential services but also assumes that the province knows better than local governments about how to manage traffic and transportation needs.

In addition, the one-size-fits-all criteria for bike lane approval fail to recognize the diverse needs and priorities of Ontario’s municipalities. Urban centers like Toronto and smaller communities face very different traffic patterns, geography, and transportation needs. Imposing provincial standards will likely result in rules that do not suit the unique circumstances of each community, making it harder for municipalities to address gridlock and improve transportation efficiency on their own terms.

Furthermore, this bill could stifle innovation in transportation planning. Bike lanes can be a vital part of reducing congestion and promoting environmentally friendly commuting options. Municipalities should be free to experiment with and implement solutions that work for their specific contexts without unnecessary interference from the province.

At its core, this bill is an example of top-down governance that centralizes decision-making in Queen’s Park, rather than empowering municipalities to take care of their own communities. A better approach would be to allow municipalities the freedom to make infrastructure decisions while offering support and guidance when requested—not mandating it from above. This would respect the principle of local control, reduce bureaucratic red tape, and allow for more efficient transportation solutions tailored to the needs of Ontario's diverse regions.