Where investing in transit
can take us
By
Premier Kathleen Wynne
The
first subway line in Toronto opened in 1954, the year after I was born. I
still remember riding the subway with my grandmother as a little girl. I
was wearing my white gloves because it was a special occasion. Everyone
was so excited, so proud.
Today,
in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, the average commute time is 82
minutes a day. Toronto’s gridlock is a major issue affecting its
reputation and its productivity.
There
is a pressing need for change. That is not up for debate.
But
when I listen to the rhetoric around transit investment, I believe that
some politicians have made a short-sighted decision to avoid real
solutions.
But
I know that improving our daily commute is not about scoring political
points. It’s about ensuring Ontario’s success. And that is my core
responsibility as the Premier of this province.
I
believe the people of this region want to stop fighting about this; they
are ready to get moving. But to develop real momentum we have to change
the way we talk about these investments.
We
need to bring excitement back to the discussion of public transit, and
where it can take us, our children and grandchildren.
We
have to talk about what we DO want. We want to get to work on time in the
morning. We want to get home to our families quickly at the end of the
day.
Ensuring
that Ontario’s largest city can move with ease is important to
businesses and industries based here in Toronto, because it will help
their employees be more productive and have a better standard of living.
And
it will help companies outside of Toronto as well, letting them move their
products efficiently from one side of this region to the other.
It
will have a positive impact on our tourism, our natural environment and on
the health of the millions of people who call this region home.
Investing
in transit in this region is going to pay off for the whole province.
In
June, Metrolinx will release its investment strategy to address transit in
the GTHA, zeroing in on the shortlist of potential revenue tools it
released last week.
As
Premier of Ontario, I can’t pre-empt their strategy by talking about
what tools they might choose to put forward to the government. But I can
tell you generally about what I think needs to happen when it comes to
transit investment in the GTHA.
And
I hope that it will do a lot to show the public that this process will be
fair and transparent, and that it’s necessary, too.
I
believe that the cost of any new revenue must be directly tied to a
measurable result.
People
need to know what they are paying for; they need to see where the money is
going.
I
also know that this cannot just be about one group of commuters.
Contrary to what some people will have you believe, there is no war
on cars, or cyclists or transit. We are all fighting for a better way
forward.
And
so any new tool cannot disproportionately impact one type of commute, but
must recognize the strains across the system.
When
it comes down to it, transit in the GTHA will need tens of billions of
dollars over the next twenty years. Our whole provincial budget each year
is about $125B.
And
our spending on programs including education and health care is already
tightly constrained, the lowest of any province.
We
need to find dedicated revenue for these projects, because the money
cannot be found elsewhere.
I
am focused on getting people excited about transit and transportation
infrastructure again.
So
I will keep talking about what we can achieve for this city, this region,
and this great province. I will focus on the positive impact we can make
through smart, fair investment.
But
I need your help. Let’s tap into the desire for a better commute,
cleaner air, a stronger economy. I know the will is there.
I know the support exists. And progress will be made.
Together
we can get this done.
