This proposal is a terrible…

This proposal is a terrible idea. The provincial government should focus on critical matters that affect the province (like health care, the environment, emergency services, education, and regulating trade and commerce) instead of meddling in municipal affairs. The provincial government does not have the competence nor the capacity to seriously assess the merits of bike lanes in every community in Ontario. Instead, this appears to be a populist measure that our Premier, Mr. Doug Ford and Etobicoke MPP, Christine Hogarth are pushing through with a majority government to remove specific bike lanes in Toronto that affect their personal commute. Enacting provincial legislation to deal with Toronto-specific grievances is petty and a grave abuse of power. The provincial government should focus on research-based policy making, and consider concepts like induced demand, safe streets and climate change. I firmly believe this is a significant step backward and future governments will have to unwind the damage. I encourage the government to reconsider this foolhardy, non-evidence based course of action and consider the Ontario that we want to have 5, 10, 20 and 50 years from now. It should NOT be a province where cars are king, but rather where we all have multiple transportation options, including cycling on dedicated bike lanes in major urban centres like Toronto. As my toddler grows up, I shouldn't have to explain to her that our politicians make bad decisions that are not based on evidence and are an abuse of power - I want her to be a proud Ontarian and aspire to contribute, not fight against poor decision making. This government has certainly lost my vote and more importantly, my trust.