This piece of legislation…

This piece of legislation makes absolutely no sense and would be hugely regretted if it is passed. Multiple studies have shown that bike lanes have no effect on traffic, and that adding lanes of traffic often worsen traffic instead of alleviating it. However, if you REALLY want to add lanes for car traffic, why not remove street parking on major streets? They take up just as much, if not more, space as bike lanes, yet this government has made absolutely no mention of them- why is that exactly? Is it because this is not actually about traffic, but about Premier Ford's odd agenda to rid the province of cyclists as a whole? Unfortunately for him, people will always cycle in this city and this province. With no bike lanes, this just means they'll have to ride in the same lanes as cars- so cars will just get stuck behind them anyways (on top of it being an obvious safety concern).

Also, how is this government reconciling the cost of removing these bike lanes? And the fact that while the construction is going on, it will worsen traffic even more? Surely the money that will be spent on this would be far better off going towards our healthcare system, or perhaps repairing the Ontario Science Centre roof?? I don't understand how this government can say we don't have money to pay nurses and doctors and teachers, and then turn around and put this kind of legislature out. It is very obvious that the real solution to the traffic problem is to get fewer cars on the road- the province could help accomplish this by investing in better public transit and more bike lanes, not fewer. And not just in Toronto, or even the GTA, but all over the province. Cycling has many societal, health and environmental benefits, and this government would be wrong to not encourage it and non-car modes of transportation as much as possible.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to express my extreme disapproval at the idea of bypassing the Environmental Assessment Act for this and for Highway 413. The idea that you would skip an assessment on a highway that is meant to run through the Greenbelt is absolutely absurd and dangerous. Climate change is real and it is here already, and the fact that this government is willing to contribute to a problem that will affect every single one of its citizens, instead of finding solutions to save our future, is completely baffling. I would urge this government to reassess its plans, and find a better solution that doesn't impede on a municipality's right to govern itself.