I’m a conservative and I…

I’m a conservative and I voted for this government. However, as a driver and a mother, I disapprove of Bill 212, and the recent urban planning decisions the government has been making since those decisions have not been rooted in research. Research shows that adding car capacity will make traffic worse. I’m also upset because Bill 212 contradicts the conservative principles I was promised.

1. It Will Make Traffic Worse
As a driver, I don’t want everyone to be forced to drive. I want people to bike, walk, take the train, etc. so that there are less cars on the road and less gridlock. That would make it easier to drive my kids when we need to.

2. It’s Unsafe for my Kids
As a mother, I want my kids to be able to walk and bike home after school on their own since I’m working and can’t pick them up at 3. I want them to be able to do this safely and the more cars that are on the road, the more dangerous it is for my kids to walk on the sidewalk and cross the street. I shouldn’t need to worry about them getting hit by a car while crossing the street!

3. Adding Red Tape is Against Conservative Values
As a conservative, I oppose excessive government interference and support local decision-making. Bill 212 imposes centralized control over transportation planning, adding layers of bureaucracy and slowing down processes that should be handled efficiently at the municipal level. My local government understands my community’s needs and develop infrastructure accordingly. Requiring provincial oversight for bike lanes runs counter to the conservative value of limiting government overreach and streamlining decision-making.

4. More Fiscally Responsible
From a fiscal conservative perspective, bike lanes are more cost-effective than car lanes and highways. They require far less maintenance than roads and reduce the demand for expensive car-centric infrastructure like wide roads and parking lots.

I don’t want to waste my taxpayer dollars on funding roads and highways. I want to divert people away from having to drive (trains, bike, walking) so I can have more space when I need to drive. I also want the choice to be able to bike and walk safely with my family when I want to.

In conclusion, as a conservative and mother, I am against Bill 212. Bike infrastructure isn’t about ideology; it’s about solving real-world problems like traffic congestion, safety, and fiscal responsibility. Centralized control only adds complications while making life harder for everyday Ontarians.