Your proposal stinks for two…

Your proposal stinks for two reasons: 1) it is an uncalled-for interference in local affairs and local democracy; and 2) it's basic premise is not based in fact or evidence. The people of Toronto, which I remind you was amalgamated into one city by a previous Conservative government without consultation or regard for what Torontonians wanted, voted for local representatives who approved and implemented a bike network plan following all the proper, democratic processes. Now, because those suburbanites who lost their own local councils because of your buddy Mike Harris, are complaining, the entire city must consider that local democratic process irrelevant (including the strong mayor powers you gave to Toronto when you thought a conservative mayor was going to be in power). Just because some people don't like the outcome doesn't mean that local process doesn't count. You are sticking your nose where it doesn't belong, regardless of whether people agree with the policy or not. There is a process for the majority voters in the city to change their elected representation, but having a higher level of government constantly second-guessing every local decision undermines the whole idea of local democracy. Your government has made such interference in Toronto's affairs a habit. Do you also believe that the federal government has every right to second-guess every decision that you make? I doubt it, but you sure are able to dish it out much better than you can take it. Bunch of hypocrites.

The premise that bike lanes should never remove road capacity is flawed because you have presented no evidence that such is true. The municipalities have made their own case for the bike networks that they are implementing, yet you have wiped all of that out at the stroke of a pen based on nothing. You say you will set out criteria "later," but why do we not deserve to see and comment on the rationality of that criteria before it is set in law, instead of after? You talk about "listening to the people," but you only listen to the ones you like and you screw the rest. You practise the politics of convenience instead of developing policies that are fact and evidence-based. You do this with all of your transportation policies, including the new transit lines you are building that could have delivered so much more than they will because you are building them wrong. The idea that we could ever build enough road capacity in Toronto to accommodate infinite traffic growth is absurd, yet that's what you are telling the people you can do. This is a pack of lies and there isn't one credible urban transportation expert that will agree with you. Never let it be said that your government ever listens to the credible experts who actually know what they are talking about. You only listen to the ones who have their own agendas, and you only tell the voters what you think they want to hear. That's not good leadership, it never was, but as long as it gets you the votes, I'm sure you could care less about whether it's the right thing to do or not. This bill is a load of crap, and should be scrapped.