John Tory's op-ed in favour of Scarborough subway draws backlash from Torontonians
'Many of the subway's loudest critics do not live or work in Scarborough,' Tory writes
The Toronto Star may no longer have a comment section on its website, but that didn't stop some angry Torontonians fromvoicing their displeasure withMayor John Tory's op-ed for the paper in which he states his support for theScarborough subway extension.
In the piece, bluntlytitled"Why I support the Scarborough subway," Tory says Toronto is "decades behind when it comes to transit" and cites an analysis bychief planner Jennifer Keesmaat and her department which "favoured an express subway extension" over anLRT line.
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Toronto had previously proposed and moved to create a light rail line in Scarborough, with both the capital and operating costs paid for by the province,but it was scrappedat a cost of $85 million.
Tory argues "many of the subway's loudest critics do not live or work in Scarborough,where more than half the population is born outside of Canada," and that veering away from a subway extension would "delay transit for those who need it, introduce new problems, new costs and a weakened position for our city."
Reaction to his piece, like just about everything in Toronto's transit debate, was heated.
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss
Some were disappointedthat Tory's stance on the subway line is the same as the Ford brothers.
Former mayor Rob Fordand his brother Doug Ford, a former citycouncillorand Tory'srival on election nightin2014, were in favour of a Scarborough line.
Hey, if anyone was wondering how Rob Ford would have turned out, had he attended Upper Canada College. #topoli https://t.co/PrHP3ibcuw
—@ImperatorGroverQ: Who was the more politically successful Ford brother, Rob or Doug?
A: John Tory. #TOpoli #HotTake
—@gabelermanWhen John Tory's mayor, they said, things'll calm down, they said, there'll be nothing to write about, they said. #TOpoli
—@cityslikrIssue not black or white, or any colour
Tory's remark that many who oppose the line aren't from the area, which is famouslymulticultural, made some people see red.
Many accused the mayor ofpainting those against the subway extensionas anti-immigrant.
The idea that not wanting to pay $3.2 billion for a one stop subway is an anti-immigrant stance is asinine, even by #TOPoli's low standards.
—@asifintoronto@JohnTory It is very insulting for you as mayor to insinuate that any critic of the SSE is depriving immigrants of transit #topoli
—@neuroticjoseJohn Tory crossed the line with using immigrants to justify Brad Duguids subway. Unethical and cynical. #topoli
—@JayBeeGoonerSad, desperate and shameful. I had hoped for much more from a mayor who preached civility. https://t.co/LoxbsTni2o
—@JoshMatlowStop the gravy train
Some criticism ofTory was strictly fiscal, particularly the idea of the city spending more than $3 billion intaxpayers' money for a single subway stop.
@TorontoStar @JohnTory Also how dare you pit downtown vs. Scarb. We want transit that makes sense in every part of the city. Not wasted $$$.
—@mariootsa@TorontoStar @JohnTory Waste of money for one stop.
—@ThreeStarPetSubways, subways, subways, please!
Despite thebacklash againstTory's article, many expressed the need for a subway extension in Scarborough.
My friends from special needs families say they would rather improved transit than get more services because they can't get to them #topoli
—@kkbxtr@TorontoStar @JohnTory I commute from Etobicoke to the Scarb Civic Centre. Would love to see Line 2 "completed." I would drive much less.
—@kevinc_262
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