Toronto Gov: Use Mass Transit or Die


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!

More by Robert Farago
Comments
Join the conversation
What about the next time the TTC or the Go-Train goes on strike? Considering it happens about every 4 months...
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.