Mr. Speaker, perhaps the most galling thing I have read in recent memory is a post by a Ford MPP celebrating tearing out bike lanes in my home city of Toronto by saying it will make roads safer for people on bikes. Where is the data?
Let us be clear. Bike lanes save lives. If someone has a problem with their design or location, they should take it to our mayor or to city councillors. That is why we elect them. It is time that we look at charter cities and look at how to better protect our cities from this kind of overreach.
I ran to make sure that our federal government was a strong partner to the city of Toronto, and we are. Strong partners do not roll over each other's toes.
The Ford decision is going to cost lives. It is going to cost taxpayers. It is going to take away an affordable way to get around our city, and it is going to add to traffic. How is that for a lump of coal for the holidays? Bah humbug.
Let us stand up for the city of Toronto. Let us stand up for charter cities.