Martow addresses transit at Queen’s Park

Vaughan Weekly
March 5, 2014
By Angela Gismondi

Newly elected Thornhill MPP Gila Martow has been busy learning the ropes at Queen’s Park.

Martow was elected in the byelection on Feb. 13. Since then she has been busy training and setting up her new office at Queen’s Park. She was officially sworn in last Monday (Feb. 24) and has been in the legislature since Tuesday morning.

“I try to be inside most of the day so I can learn how things work,” she said in an interview with The Weekly Friday.

The Progressive Conservative MPP asked her first question in the legislature Thursday. One of the major issues throughout the byelection was transit in the riding,  so Martow directed her first question to Glen Murray, the Minister of Transportation. Martow asked when the Yonge subway line will be expanded to York Region.

“The hardworking people of my riding of Thornhill pay their fair share of transit taxes and would like this Liberal government to do it’s fair share,” stated Martow. “Instead of giving families in Thornhill the transit they need and want, this Liberal government continues to waste tax dollars on scandals and is moving forward with a $640 million east-west bus lane plan that does not properly address the needs of people in my community. The people of Thornhill want to know if the Minister of Transportation will abandon his ill thought-out transit plan and commit today to building the Yonge subway expansion.”

The Minister was honoured to receive Martow’s first question in the legislature.  In response to her question, Murray said the Yonge subway extension is part of the province’s Big Move plan, a $50 billion project. He also said the province is working with the region and municipalities to implement transit projects in Martow’s riding and throughout York Region.

“Our track record is there,” said Murray. “I look forward to working with her to realize that project

Martow was not satisfied with the response.

“For a decade under this Liberal government, residents of York Region have been asking for the expansion of the Yonge subway line, not just talking about it,” she said, adding it is needed to serve the residents of Thornhill as well as Richmond Hill, Aurora, Markham and Newmarket.

“Instead of getting the infrastructure the residents of Thornhill need, they continue to send their hard-earned tax dollars to this Liberal government, watching them spend it on everything from ORNGE to E-Health to the gas plant scandal. Minister why do you insist on reaching into the taxpayers pockets to pay for all of your waste and scandal?”

Murray invited Martow to tour with him the transit initiatives in York Region, including the Spadina subway expansion as well as other projects.

Following the meeting, Martow said she wants to see the money being used to fund those east-west bus routes redirected towards providing downtown relief for commuters who travel to Toronto and back.

“It’s not a high priority project,” she said. “If it’s not a high priority, why are we spending so much money on it? We can’t keep talking about getting people off the roads if we don’t give them transit options they want. We need quick, reliable, comfortable and viable alternatives. The VIVA project is not going to help anyone. We need to reroute those transit plans. We need to prioritize where transit dollars are going.”

She also wants to see increased GO Train service from Thornhill to Toronto.

In addition to transit, Martow is also making the economy a priority.

“How are we going to pay for anything if good paying jobs are leaving the province?” asked Martow. “We need to focus on making Ontario an economic leader again. I’m disappointed that things aren’t better in Ontario – there is no reason for it. We have the knowledge and the know-how. It’s about creating that business-friendly climate. We have to make companies want to invest in Ontario.”

She also wants to focus on helping students get jobs. She is encouraging local companies to take on extra staff and hire students this summer.

“I’m hoping it’s going to be a good summer of employment for students,” said Martow, adding students need experience in order to get hired.

Martow is looking forward to getting to work on her priorities.

“We need to get ourselves on the right track with the economy and on the right track with transit,” she stated.

Martow had her first meeting in the riding Friday with Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua. She planned to discuss zoning issues and transit with the mayor.