‘My family spent months waiting for a long-term care bed for my grandfather, during which time he was taking up a bed space at the NBRHC, which could have gone to someone else in need’
To the editor:
An open letter to Vic Fedeli.
While I usually refrain from contacting you about provincial politics as I know you love to toe the party line, recent news reports have changed my mind. I have had enough and am finally writing to speak out against your Progressive Conservative government’s continued meddling in Toronto’s municipal affairs.
Being experienced with Ontario’s planning framework, I understand that legally you are in the right, as municipalities are technically creatures of the province and can be overruled at any time.
Morally, however, I have many concerns.
The latest attempts to expand the Billy Bishop Airport, destroy the beloved public aspects of Ontario Place to facilitate more private development from foreign companies, and most recently endangering every cyclist in the city by ripping out existing bike lanes (proven by countless researchers to actually ease congestion and improve safety) are a waste of tax dollars and government time.
They are also frankly a slap in the face to Torontonians and Ontarians alike.
The fact that the latest bike lane legislation explicitly absolves the province of liability for injured cyclists is a prime example of how this Conservative government is aware that their policies will cause increased harm to their constituents.
Nobody asked for this interference and waste of provincial tax dollars on needless court cases, back-and-forth construction projects, and consulting hours. Our province has many issues that should be prioritized, including our crumbling education and healthcare systems, the drug use and mental health epidemics that have been worsened by the PC closure of safe injection sites and specialized psychiatric facilities, and the lack of provincially funded affordable housing contributing to unaffordable rents and housing costs.
I have personally been impacted by all of these issues in recent years, and it is beyond upsetting to see the political focus of this government be on trivial municipal matters instead.
My tuition and housing costs are rising while wages have effectively stagnated.
My family spent months waiting for a long-term care bed for my grandfather, during which time he was taking up a bed space at the NBRHC which could have gone to someone else in need.
And I have lost loved ones to suicide and mental health struggles in no small part thanks to an underfunded and ignored mental health system in the province. These are some of the real issues that affect Ontarians every day, not bike lanes and public parks in Toronto.
The city of Toronto is perfectly capable of handling its own internal affairs, even if it makes Doug’s commute from Etobicoke to Queen’s Park five minutes longer. We did not elect Doug to be the mayor of Toronto, and I expect him to address provincial issues and leave Toronto (non)issues to Toronto’s municipal government to address.
That is the entire reason the Planning Act exists and permits municipal governments to be formed. Fix the actual issues affecting this province or step down so we can elect somebody else who will.
See related: Northern Ontario youth suicide rate four times higher than provincial average
Disappointedly,
Drew Sinclair
Born and raised in North Bay, currently attending school at the University of Waterloo.