I Was Proud to Join The Clean Train Coalition's "Human Train" in the West End On Saturday

by John Laforet
posted on September 28th, 2009 at 08:52:17 am

I first wrote about the ‘Blue 22′ proposal on  January 5th 2009 in an entry called Blue 22 Has All the Makings of a Bad Idea

Here are some relevant portions of what I said then and continue to believe today. For those who read my blog regularly, please note my concerns with poor process, and gutting of environmental assessments pre-dates my exposure to this issue through the Green Energy Act, which did not become an issue until the middle of February.

“One aspect of planning I absolute cannot abide is anything that circumvents Ontario’s Environmental Assessment process. Ontario’s EA process is designed to protect our environment through researching the impacts projects will have on the local area. I would suspect running diesel burning trains through a residential neighbourhood four times an hour, most hours of the day, seven days a week, is bound to have an environmental impact that is worth knowing before the project is completed. Sadly, it appears the Province of Ontario will not force the proponents of Blue 22 to go through the rigourous process that would demonstrate some of the weaknesses in their plan.” - Blue 22 Has All the Makings of a Bad Idea – January 5th 2009 – John Laforet

“Can you imagine that in 2009 there are still proponents for diesel intra-city transit trains? I would hate to imagine a meeting of a bunch of guys from Metrolinx and SNC Lavlin sitting around a board room wondering what that “third rail” was for on the TTC’s Subway and RT tracks. If these guys want to build a project that is both unnecessary and unpopular, they should at least be environmentally friendly and use technology that the TTC has been using successfully for it’s subway trains since 1954. An electric train system is nothing new, and should be the only type of train being considered for future intra city train projects. Further, Bombardier – a Canadian company with a solid train building facility in Thunder Bay is capable fo building such trains. In a time of economic recession – would it not make sense to build new trains as a form of stimulus as opposed to refurbishing trains that are not environmentally friendly?” - Blue 22 Has All the Makings of a Bad Idea – January 5th 2009 – John Laforet

“Projects without merit are bad enough, but when one starts messing around with the law to make it easier for their bad project to go through I get worried. When it is public money I get even more worried. It is my hope that Metrolinx will realize there are far better transit projects and if they are of the opinion a train needs to go to the airport, use the Transit City plan of the TTC to make it happen as part of the light rail transit plan.” - Blue 22 Has All the Makings of a Bad Idea – January 5th 2009 – John Laforet

I joined the Clean Train Coalition’s ‘Human Train’ on Saturday along with nearly 1000 other concerned residents of Toronto. The group set up a march along the streets near the tracks where Metrolinx ‘Blue 22′ proposal would happen. Metrolinx is a provincial, regional transit planning body that among other things is charged with developing a rail system to the Airport from the downtown core.

Instead of proposing an environmentally sound solution, one that residents could support, the Provincial government has instead decided to call for 450 diesel trains to run through these residential communities daily to serve airport passengers. Residents in the affected communities recognize that their area does have a role to play in assisting travellers from the airport to the city centre, but object to a faulty environmental assessment process that has seen viable alternatives ignored, and impacts downplayed. They are calling for a sensible solution. One that meets the needs of Metrolinx and prevents negative environmental and health impacts for residents.

Do I live in the West End of Toronto? Not even close. In fact, I personally knew so little about the neighbourhoods that I got lost on foot on my way to the rally. This is so far from my backyard, I would have absolutely no idea what was going on along the tracks if Metrolinx went forward. So why do I care what happens? The answer is simple. While the Clean Train Coalition folks probably don’t know it, their fight is the same as the fight in Scarborough with Toronto Hydro. It’s the same fight the folks in South Mississauga have with the Ontario Power Authority. It’s the same fight happening in countless communities across Ontario opposing other government sanctioned big impact infrastructure projects.

The process in place for community consultation is weak. Environmental oversight for transit projects and renewable energy projects is fatally flawed and incidentally the Environmental Assessment process designed for Mextrolinx use in this community is the template for renewable energy projects. No science is being considered by the proponent, who instead relies on spin, support from the Provincial government and abuse of process as a means to get the project through. When process breaks down, procedural situations become political quick.

I joined residents of the Clean Train Coalition on Saturday because they too have been ignored by the Government MPPs who ‘represent’ (a term I am using very liberally here) their communities. Their legitimate concerns are being ignored, and democracy railroaded. This is unacceptable whenever it happens, and I was pleased to be able to support a coalition of communities fighting back (sound familiar?)

Process is extremely important, and until government is prepared to get it right there will be Clean Train Coalitions, Save the Toronto Bluffs, Wind Concerns Ontarios, Stop Dump Site 41s and other organizations that see citizens really live up to their obligation to encourage and defend democracy through action.

I was proud to march with approximately a thousand Toronto residents and see so many parents who brought their young children out to show them how democracy works between elections. Watching a child draw a protest sign, or hearing a parent explaining why they were walking, chanting and carrying signs is a very powerful thing. I was happy to do my part, and walk the walk on the environment with the good people of the Clean Train Coalition and genuinely hope that Metrolinx bows to pressure and eletrifies the trains.

Failing that, I’d like to see Toronto City Council step in and fight the Provincial Government on behalf of all residents who live in breathe in our City.

One thing is for sure, residents will not be going away. They are in this fight for the long haul. Olivia Chow, Cheri Di Novo and a number of NDP leaning City Councillors have been great advocates for these communities, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see this play out as an election issue in York South Weston and Davenport where the Liberals hold the seats and have been failing to act. Whoever plans to ‘also ran’ against Di Novo for the Ontario Liberals in Parkdale-Highpark will also likely face this issue head on and find themselves with real difficulty if Metrolinx goes forward.