York Region residents want political action on transit: poll

YorkRegion.com
May 1, 2014
By Sean Pearce

According to a new Angus Reid Forum poll, 87 per cent of York Region residents believe public transit should be a regional spending priority.

Beyond demonstrating strong support for spending on transit and transportation infrastructure, the poll, which was taken in April, found 84 per cent of respondents in the region would support new taxes or fees, provided they were set aside in a dedicated pool. The The poll indicates 60 per cent of Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area respondents would support increases in taxes and fees to improve transportation infrastructure and 59 per cent say they would be more likely to support a political leader who proposed funding ideas to directly support transportation improvements in their community.

“We cannot pass the buck for our aging infrastructure to the next generations,” Greater Toronto CivicAction Alliance CEO Sevaun Palvetzian said. “The need is there, the support is there and it’s time for our provincial politicians to take the wheel to fund a better transportation network.”

CivicAction, along with a coalition of some two dozen business, labour, health, community and environmental organizations are attempting to drive home the message a majority of residents across the GTHA report being more likely to vote for politicians who support new, dedicated dollars for transit. Beyond that, CivicAction and its partners are looking to all of the party leaders to be clear on how they will invest in the next wave of transportation improvements for the region in the budget and in their platforms going forward.

“Our members throughout the region recognize that transportation has to be a priority for investment,” Ontario Chamber of Commerce president Allan O’Dette said. “Congestion is a big drag on our region’s competitiveness.”

To date, half of elected officials, including more than 50 per cent of MPPs across the three major parties, have signed CivicAction’s Get a Move On pledge calling for dedicated, efficient and sustainable investments in GTHA transportation priorities. Here in York, a total of 49 elected officials have pledged, including 100 per cent of Markham councillors, 90 per cent of Vaughan councillors, 78 per cent of Richmond Hill councillors and 57 per cent of York Region MPPs.

For more details about CivicAction, visit civicaction.ca.
To take CivicAction’s Your32 pledge, visit your32.com