Speaking as a conservative…

Speaking as a conservative who regularly commutes by car: this bill is wrong, and should not proceed.

I am an owner of multiple companies, all in the software industry. One I sold fairly recently. By the time I left, we had 50 employees. We had 6 parking spots. These were free to use by anyone, without any kind of reservation system. In the 6 years I formed and then operated the company, we never had a conflict.

Why?

The next generation, including of conservatives, wants to live without a car. Many don’t have driver’s licenses. The budding bike infrastructure is a recruiting highlight I show to people I’m trying to get to move to Toronto. Scrapping it would be a disaster.

Further: it won’t reduce congestion. Please, someone, teach the minister and his staff about “induced demand”. The only way you can reduce congestion is by giving people safe, reliable, convenient alternatives. The cycling network is not widely used yet, of course, because it’s so small. Please, please, please let it reach critical mass and bring Toronto into the 21st century. Our ability to recruit and retain top talent in the software industry depends on it.