Comments on Bill 212 -…

Comments on Bill 212 - Reducing Gridlock, Saving Your Time Act, 2024
I am a senior living in Toronto, I'm a cyclist and worked for 30 years in the provincial government. For most of my 30 years I cycled to work. As a former civil servant, I fully know the Provincial Government has the power to override local democracy, its done it several times before in the City of Toronto. Having the power to do something, isn't the same as having the moral authority to do it. Each time the provincial government arbitrarily interferes it make local residents more cynical about government. If you don't trust municipalities to operate their communities - why don't you just abolish them outright!

As a retired person - 66 years old, I still cycle daily of shopping, volunteering and visiting and caring for family and friends. If Bill 212 is passed and receives Royal Assent it puts me in danger. I visit a 97 year old friend several times a week who lives in a downtown Long-Term Care Home. I live in East York (Toronto). I use bike lanes on Danforth and Bloor to visit my elderly friend with dementia. I also have POAs for her care. So your Bill 212 will force the City of Toronto to rip up lanes than help to ensure my safety. I not a motorist, but how the hell will I cross the Don River without going on a major road. Does my safety not matter to your government. It seems not. This Bill is Dog Whistle politics. It puts the safety of a minority group - cyclists up for debate. In order to safe motorists a few minutes my safety is up for grabs.

I am opposed to this Bill. It is bad example of overreach on the part of a higher level of government - provincial government that takes away democratic control from municipalities. I never elected the Premier to run the city of Toronto. If the Premier is hell bend on running the city, the Premier should run for Mayor of the City of Toronto. Until the Premier does, he should respect local decision making. Bill 212 is arbitrary and is one sided. It is aimed at motor vehicle drivers to the detriment of cyclists. Bike Lanes are best handle by local government. Bike lanes have always been a municipal responsibility. Good governance calls for the control by that level of government closest to the decision. What do the MPPs in Queen's Park know about traffic flow in the city of Toronto or any other municipality. As a citizen of Canada, living in Ontario and a resident of Toronto, it makes no sense for the provincial government to interfere with the running of municipalities.