Metrolinx wants $150 million to build 2 kilometres of bike path. Who’s taking who for a ride? Aug. 14
Toronto has no money to repair public housing, Bloor-Danforth trains are creaking towards the subway graveyard, essential service response times are dismal, and on and on we go. You live here, you know what I’m talking about.
But in city hall’s alternate fluffy pink universe, there’s an extra $150 million to build two kilometres of super-duper bike lanes. However they spin it, that’s essentially what it is.
But that’s chicken feed compared to city council approving a whopping $400 million to rebuild the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts — $200 million over original estimate, and $350 million more than the cost to repair it.
I’m not against bikes or the arts, but this is ridiculous. Between these two questionable projects alone, that’s half a billion-with-a-B of our tax dollars that aren’t fixing the basics.
Every household knows there are need-to-haves and nice-to-haves. Get with the program, city hall!
Lisa Murray, Toronto
Fix the present and the future won’t be so worrisome
The new Canadian Future Party has no future with that name and purpose. Voters may be interested in what’s to come, but their main concern is what’s going on nowadays. Politicians: First, fix the present. Then, worry about the future.
Jaime Oksemberg, Toronto
Public participation is a core principle in land-use planning
Prior to Bill 185, few residents could afford to appeal council decisions to the Ontario Land Tribunal. Accordingly, the majority of appeals came from developers, often arguing for more density or reduced setbacks, etc.
Provincial Bill 185 shuts the door on citizens looking to appeal rezoning decisions to the Ontario Land Tribunal but leaves the door wide open for appeals from developers and industry, like gravel-mine owners.
The public right to appeal council decisions whether it is used or not is a matter of fairness.
Like it or not, public participation is a core principle in land-use planning. As a former municipal councillor and land-use planner I am appalled that the public right of appeal — the duty to act fairly to all parties — has been trampled on under these new rules.
Susan Lloyd-Swail, Kitchener
Where’s the risk-benefit analysis in the Ford government’s decision-making process?
A headline such as this calls into question Premier Doug Ford’s budgeting priorities. Public health issues such as pandemics cause enormous concern, harm, expense, and mortality. The Star estimated that the pandemic cost Canada $1.5 billion per day, yet Ford cancelled the COVID wastewater surveillance program (despite its international reputation) to save a grand total of $11 million per annum. We live in an information economy . This is reminiscent of Ford’s decision in 2020 to virtually cancel inspections of long-term-care homes in Ontario. How much suffering and death could have been avoided had the inspection program not been cancelled?
I worked in the financial services industry. Every major expense was subject to a risk-benefit analysis. I suggest the Ontario government implement this in their decision-making process.
Moses Shuldiner, Toronto
I put myself through law school behind the Wheat Sheaf Tavern’s bar
Inside one of Toronto’s oldest bars — a grimy tavern with cockfights turned King West mainstay, Aug. 10
My family and I quite enjoyed David Silverberg’s article last weekend about The Wheat Sheaf Tavern which included a great picture of my father Jerry Borins who owned the Wheat Sheaf from 1969 to 1994. Dad would have loved the article. My father bought the Wheat Sheaf with my two grandfathers, Louis Borins and Ben Freeman. I bartended my way through law school there becoming the 3rd generation in the family to serve at this historic landmark. My son Jack and his friends now frequent the bar. As for the tunnel to Fort York, you would need to buy me a pint to get the full story.
Richie Borins, North York
Rain gardens can help city residence deal with excess water
With thanks to the city for taking on this huge infrastructure program to store excess rainwater during extreme weather to prevent flooding, it’s important to also recognize the role that nature can play in absorbing water. Many cities have made plans to become “sponge cities” with wetlands, permeable paved surfaces, trees and ravine restoration. In addition, homeowners can create beautiful rain gardens in their front or back yards, or in community spaces. My sister identified a location outside a church at the bottom of a sloped road and worked with the city to create a raingarden there. My sister also worked with RAINScapeTo to create her own front yard rain garden, consisting of a shallow depression to collect water from the downspouts, which is covered with flowering native plants. It is created by digging a rock filled area under the lawn and completed with native species on the soil above. Beautiful and functional!
Lyn Adamson, Toronto
Having the right stuff!
SpaceX to NASA’s rescue? These stranded astronauts need a ride home, eventually, from somebody, Aug. 14
The plight of the two astronauts stuck on the International Space Station is a stark reminder of how unpredictable and dangerous space travel can be. It was originally intended to be only a nine-day mission, but NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams have now been stuck for seven weeks in space due to thruster problems and helium leaks with their Boeing Starliner capsule. Now, with no clear solution to their propulsion issues in sight, they may have to wait until February 2025 to finally come home! Such patience and stamina of these two astronauts gives credence to the movie “The Right Stuff.” Clearly, Wilmore and Williams have the right stuff in ample supply to boldly go where few have travelled. God speed to both in finally getting home!
Mike LoSchiavo, Stoney Creek, Ont.
Prioritizing bonuses over jobs
After CBC downsized employees in order to reduce its budget shortfall to $20 million, and then paid $18.4 million in bonuses, are there any Canadian taxpayers who think CBC managers have their priorities straight and deserved a bonus for making their layoff decisions?
Marcia Zalev, Toronto
