[Mihairokov]

So what? All of London went NDP all 3 times he got elected too. It does not matter how your riding went or how your city swung. Ontario collectively elected the PCs with 3 majorities. That's just what happened.

London isn't the dominant urban centre in Ontario. If anything, Ottawa has more to grieve than London or any other urban centre that's not Toronto that openly votes against the PCs. FPTP will be the downfall of this political system like it has been to the South of us and in the UK.

The problem is that Ford is not only corrupt but he knows exactly how to game the system to his benefit, this project including.

 

[reaperexpress]

Ontario collectively elected the PCs with 3 majorities. That's just what happened.

Ontario's first-past-the-post system elected the PCs with 3 majorities. However, the majority of Ontario voters did not vote for the PCs:

 

[micheal_can]

"Sorry, the subway is crowded because we assumed more people will work from home" is not a good place to reach.
We should scale transit on an assumption that most people will need to be at their workplace most of the time.
A margin of overdelivery on transit is not a bad thing.

- Paul

The problem is, once opened, day one they are at crush load.

So what? All of London went NDP all 3 times he got elected too. It does not matter how your riding went or how your city swung. Ontario collectively elected the PCs with 3 majorities. That's just what happened.

Heck while the topic of Toronto becoming it's own province is outside the scope of this thread, you guys had a chance to prevent Douggie from becoming premier if you made him mayor

I just see this project as a distraction. Nothing wrong with having vision, you can argue many politicians these days lack vision. Maybe that's why people like Douggie so much?

If you look at how projects are dolled out, it never fails that who is in power gives the places that voted for them more. It should not be this way, but it is how things are.

Ontario's first-past-the-post system elected the PCs with 3 majorities. However, the majority of Ontario voters did not vote for the PCs:
View attachment 672171

Didn't Ontario get the chance to change this?

 

[PL1]

Didn't Ontario get the chance to change this?

We did. But a combination of timing (late February, with parts of the Province experiencing a storm), and apathy led to another majority. I (and many others) believe FPTP is undemocratic, but there are people who will say "but what about Israel?!?!" when they object

 

[ssiguy2]

Hey guys, I know this is the wrong thread but............ do you guys do meetups? I couldn't find a section for it and I'm going to be in town next week and just wondering if anyone wanted to get together so you have the golden opportunity to tell me where to go to my face as opposed to just a nasty message. Opportunities like that don't come along everyday and I promise not to bring up the "B" word.

 

[Woodbridge_Heights]

Another tunnel?

Seriously, it is time to invest in transit like never before. That does include things like GO RER, ALTO/HSR west, and subways, subways, subways. That is about the only way that the area can continue to keep moving. Adding lanes has yet to actually make traffic better.

Ladies and gentlemen I present to you and idea never before imagined. Just think, an elevated highway! Please hold your applause!

 

[crs1026]

I just see this project as a distraction. Nothing wrong with having vision, you can argue many politicians these days lack vision. Maybe that's why people like Douggie so much?

Ford is a very narrow simplistic thinker - but a master at discerning what will be popular with voters ( and does not care if what’s popular is what is actually needed. )

Clearly he intends to demonstrate his sympathy for frustrated drivers. Hence this ferris wheel of a road proposal.

I don’t foresee anyone taking away his popularity with a more enlightened message - that would likely mean bringing bad news to drivers and hence voters (in this case, the message that our roads have reached saturation and congestion cannot be solved by trying to add more roads). And I’m enough of s conspiracy theorist to believe that Ottawa will drag its heels on chasing Ford’s scandals eg Greenbelt corruption because they need him on side to deal with Trump.

The best we can do is continuing to build transit as intensively as possible so that there is relief for road congestion and to win over new hearts and minds. Meanwhile I do hope this silly tunnel proposal collapses under its own weight. Possibly they will find some minor tunnel opportunity that does something useful while ragging the puck on the larger scheme… giving Ford boasting rights while putting off any serious investment until his government reaches end of life.

- Paul

 

[narduch]

So when this tunnel gets to Down Valley Golf Course does it become above ground?

 

[6ixGod]

Ah yes the 401 Tunnel….which Ford will give his buddies to build…and it’ll take 20 years to build.

…..oh, wait….so that’s the actual plan?

 

[micheal_can]

We did. But a combination of timing (late February, with parts of the Province experiencing a storm), and apathy led to another majority. I (and many others) believe FPTP is undemocratic, but there are people who will say "but what about Israel?!?!" when they object

I meant FPTP voting.

 

[Haljackey]

Ford is a very narrow simplistic thinker - but a master at discerning what will be popular with voters ( and does not care if what’s popular is what is actually needed. )

This.

You can talk about funding for routine/needed programs all you want, but they don't really make the news and get mixed in the soup with similar platforms from other parties.

Something wild like a tunnel under the 401? That's goona stick. People know who's campaigning for that.

Also something as absurd as this proposal makes projects like the 413 look tame. A lot of people were balking at the 413- and now they're balking at the 401 tunnel instead so that distracts them from getting the 413 implemented.

---

I'm not going to get into the voting system too much as it's outside the scope of this thread but I agree the majority of votes were not for for the PCs and FPTP is dumb. I am no fan of Douggie and would have liked to see his government get the minority of seats that the popular vote reflected. This way, other parties could keep him in check, especially regarding items like the 401 tunnel.

 

[Bureaucromancer]

Also something as absurd as this proposal makes projects like the 413 look tame. A lot of people were balking at the 413- and now they're balking at the 401 tunnel instead so that distracts them from getting the 413 implemented.

Ultimately I still think this is what's going on with the tunnel; its a distraction to draw criticism away from all his more ordinarily idiotic populist projects.

 

[Thaboss]

Assuming this thing actually breaks ground, which I would never bet money on. What are y'alls thoughts on the transit in this tunnel taking the form of something like koreas GTX line A ? Ultra rappid underground commuter train from pickering to missauga, with stops at major transit hubs in between, including the airport.

 

[Bureaucromancer]

Assuming this thing actually breaks ground, which I would never bet money on. What are y'alls thoughts on the transit in this tunnel taking the form of something like koreas GTX line A ? Ultra rappid underground commuter train from pickering to missauga, with stops at major transit hubs in between, including the airport.

Almost certainly end up being just a bus lane or directly tied to the Sheppard line imo.

 

[Bordercollie]

Ford government directed staff to ‘brainstorm’ how to subsidize truck tolls on Hwy. 407 | Globalnews.ca

Internal documents show civil servants were told to 'brainstorm and explore' policies to reduce congestion on Highway 401, including 'diverting' truck traffic to the 407.

globalnews.ca

Finally some common sense. Something like a $.01 per liter diesel tax could offset some of the tolls. And negotiate a flat rate up to a certain amount with the 407 company would also be something they should look at.