Premier Ford makes u-turn on LRTs

March 22, 2019

TORONTO — Green Party of Ontario Leader Mike Schreiner released the following statement in response to the announcement of $1.2 billion in funding towards Ottawa's LRT:

“I am pleasantly surprised to see such wholesale support for light rail transit from the Premier in Ottawa today. It’s a stark change from Ford’s fierce opposition to LRT projects in Toronto, which he unfairly lambasted for years.

In the past, Ford has not hidden his distaste for LRTs, bemoaning them as a nuisance to cars and threatening to ice LRT projects in the GTA. So I hope this represents an attitude shift, one that puts evidence over ideology on transit decisions.

Ford’s past political games with transit has set back transportation projects in Toronto. I support subway construction where it makes fiscal and planning sense. But Ford’s politically motivated mantra of “subways, subways, subways” is simply wrong-headed for building a clean, affordable transit system in the GTA.

Political leaders must put families and commuters ahead of partisan gain.

I’m asking the Premier to extend his newfound appreciation for LRTs to Toronto, and give up his age-old, politically driven hostility towards above-ground transit. He should allow the municipality, the public and experts to determine the future of transit in Toronto, free from political interference.”

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