Karen Stintz's lettter to Queen's Park Party Leaders

Andrea  Horwath,  Leader,  Ontario  New  Democratic  Party  Tim  Hudak,  Leader,  Progressive  Conservative  Party  of  Ontario  Kathleen  Wynne,  Leader,  Ontario  Liberal  Party  Queen’s  Park,  111  Wellesley  Street  West,  Toronto,  ON  M7A  1A2    Dear  Ms.  Horwath,  Mr.  Hudak,  &  Ms.  Wynne:    I  am  writing  to  ask  that  you  make  the  war  on  congestion  in  Toronto  and  the  GTHA  a  top  priority  for  your  election  campaign  and  a  key  focus  of  your  government  should  you  become  Premier  on  June  12,  2014.    Specifically,  I  am  asking  you  to  help  Toronto’s  war  on  congestion  by:    

1. Lifting  the  punitive  transfer  tax  on  the  sale  of  more  than  10%  of  Toronto  Hydro.  I  have  a  plan  to  unlock  value  from  City  assets  to  fund  a  stronger  transportation  network  in  Toronto  through  the  sale  of  51%  of  the  City’s  interest  in  Toronto  Hydro.  However,  provincial  legislation  makes  it  impossible  for  the  City  to  unlock  value  from  Toronto  Hydro  to  invest  in  critical  transportation  infrastructure.  Should  your  party  form  the  next  government,  fixing  this  law  is  essential.  

 2. A  commitment  to  honour  the  decision  of  City  Council  to  extend  the  Bloor  Danforth  subway  line  

into  Scarborough.  Recent  comments  by  the  Chairman  of  Metrolinx  have  cast  doubt  on  the  province’s  commitment  to  the  Scarborough  subway.  As  you  know,  the  projected  ridership  levels  on  the  Bloor  Danforth  extension  into  Scarborough  are  greater  than  the  projected  levels  on  the  Spadina  subway  extension  under  construction.  When  we  talk  about  building  a  subway  network  across  Toronto,  my  Toronto  includes  Scarborough.  I  ask  that  you  and  your  candidates  in  Scarborough  commit  to  this  critical  expansion  of  the  subway  network.  

 3. Expediting  the  planning,  engineering  and  funding  for  the  Toronto  Relief  Line.  In  2012  I  wrote  to  

Premier  McGuinty  seeking  provincial  support  for  the  Toronto  Relief  Line.  The  Toronto  Relief  Line  is  essential  to  connecting  the  neighbourhoods  on  the  east  and  west  side  of  our  City  to  the  downtown  core  and  reducing  congestion  on  the  Yonge  subway  line.  I  have  outlined  my  plan  to  fund  Toronto’s  share  of  this  regionally  significant  project  and  I  ask  that  you  make  the  same  commitment.  

 Congestion  and  gridlock  is  costing  Toronto  and  the  GTHA  more  than  $11  billion  a  year  in  lost  economic  activity.  Time  that  could  be  spent  with  family  and  friends  is  lost.    As  a  mayoral  candidate  I  have  committed  myself  to  waging  a  war  on  congestion.  I  have  laid  out  a  range  of  plans  and  way  to  pay  for  Toronto’s  portion.  Over  the  past  few  years  I  have  played  a  leadership  role  in  getting  shovels  in  the  ground  by  working  in  co-­‐operation  with  my  fellow  councillors,  and  the  provincial  and  federal  governments.  Much  has  been  done  and  much  is  being  built,  but  we  are  playing  catch  up  for  years  of  neglect.      The  provincial  government  needs  to  be  a  fully  invested  partner  in  the  war  on  congestion.  Your  clear  commitment  to  the  policies  and  projects  above  is  needed  and  I  ask  that  you  make  your  commitment  clear  during  this  election  campaign.    Thank-­‐you  on  behalf  of  the  citizens  of  Toronto.    

Councillor  Karen  Stintz  City  of  Toronto,  Mayoral  Candidate