Toronto Gov: Use Mass Transit or Die

by Robert Farago

November 6th, 2007 7:37 AM

Ahead of the Toronto Transit Commission's efforts to secure CA$6b for its proposed "Transit City" plan, The Globe and Mail is duly repeating the government's fear-mongering party line. "Exhaust pollution kills 440 each year, report finds," the headline trumpets. "Thirty-per-cent drop in traffic would save nearly 200 lives and $900-million in health costs, city's medical officer of health says." So, what else needs saying? The cure: 120 kilometres of new light-rail lines. After sounding a somewhat cautionary note, the Globe doesn't twist the "pollution kills" knife as much as use the report's conclusion to disembowel the rail project's opposition. "Children, too, feel the effects, with an estimated 1,200 cases of acute bronchitis a year caused by traffic pollution. Children are also more likely to suffer from asthma, and the report blames 68,000 'asthma symptom days' each year in Toronto's population on tailpipe emissions. It also found 67,000 'acute respiratory system days,' when people suffer from coughing, wheezing and other symptoms." Clearly, unavoidably, inevitably, something must be done!

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Samir Syed on Nov 06, 2007

What about the next time the TTC or the Go-Train goes on strike? Considering it happens about every 4 months...

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Donal on Nov 06, 2007
"The way such an idea was presented here, commuting concerns should triumph (sic) all other factors when looking for a place to live. Besides adding disapprobation I never intended, again you're assuming that the suburbs will always be safer, quieter, etc. than the city. That is why Mr Blandings built his dream house, of course, and that is always how developers have marketed suburban developments. But the realities are changing and while automakers may be slow to react, developers are already creating, or trying to create, desirable neighborhoods downtown.

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Mikey on Nov 06, 2007

For the information of our American friends.Toronto council is dominated by the N.D.P party.Canadas far left 3rd party. Simply put,they hate cars. The loony left policys, speed bumps,4 way stops no road building,etc has left Toronto into total grid lock 24/7 Cars that don't move create a hellova lot of smog. Try explaining that to a car hater.

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Quasimondo on Nov 06, 2007
Besides adding disapprobation I never intended, again you’re assuming that the suburbs will always be safer, quieter, etc. than the city. That's because in my experience, they have been safer, quieter, etc. than the city.

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