John Parker (Ward 26) has replied to Geoff Kettel’s e-mailed exhortation for residents to petition Parker to help derail the extension to the Bloor-Danforth subway. Mr. Kettel was inspired by Josh Matlow (Ward 22) who is working at council to delay the project as a waste of money. The subway scheme, known loosely as the Scarborough subway, is the fruit of Mayor Ford’s efforts to replace the already planned and funded LRT with a full out subway. Mr. Ford was provided with assistance in that triumph last October when the federal government agreed to contribute funds. It had been the last government to announce funding for a transit line of some sort. In his reply, Mr Parker says “I have favoured the LRT option from the start, and have voted accordingly at every turn in the debate. The difficult thing is that Council has now spoken. Our side lost.
(24-20 on October 9, 2013, results below — Ed ) The councillor goes on: “Be assured I will none the less seek every practical opportunity to confirm my disapproval of the subway expansion proposal. Which I have done consistently as a member of Council and as a member of the TTC every time the matter has come before me. All of that having been said, you will understand that bringing about a change in policy will take more than one more vote from me at Council confirming my disapproval of the subway extension. It will take a new attitude by Council and – to be candid – some backbone at Queen’s Park. Which is where you might want to try to bring some immediate influence to bear if the goal is to bring about a change of policy concerning the LRT replacement proposal.” Below is the vote recorded on October 9, 2013 which was previously published. The only “local” councillor to vote in favour of the subway option was TTC chair Karen Stintz.
Previous post plus Mr. Parker’s full letter as sent out by Mr. Kettel. on January 30, 2014.
Yes: 24 Ana Bailão, Michelle Berardinetti, Raymond Cho, Josh Colle, Gary Crawford, Vincent Crisanti, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Mike Del Grande, Frank Di Giorgio, Doug Ford, Rob Ford, Mark Grimes, Norman Kelly, Chin Lee, Giorgio Mammoliti, Peter Milczyn, Ron Moeser, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, James Pasternak, Anthony Perruzza, David Shiner, Karen Stintz, Michael Thompson
No: 20 Paul Ainslie, Maria Augimeri, Shelley Carroll, Janet Davis, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Mary Fragedakis, Mike Layton, Gloria Lindsay Luby, Josh Matlow, Pam McConnell, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Joe Mihevc, Denzil Minnan-Wong, John Parker, Gord Perks, Jaye Robinson, Adam Vaughan, Kristyn Wong-Tam
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John Parker (Ward 26) has replied to Geoff Kettel’s e-mailed exhortation for residents to petition Parker to help derail the extension to the Bloor-Danforth subway. Mr. Kettel was inspired by Josh Matlow (Ward 22) who is working at council to delay the project as a waste of money. The subway scheme, known loosely as the Scarborough subway, is the fruit of Mayor Ford’s efforts to replace the already planned and funded LRT with a full out subway. Mr. Ford was provided with assistance in that triumph last October when the federal government agreed to contribute funds. It had been the last government to announce funding for a transit line of some sort. In his reply, Mr Parker says “I have favoured the LRT option from the start, and have voted accordingly at every turn in the debate. The difficult thing is that Council has now spoken. Our side lost.(24-20 on October 9, 2013, results below — Ed ) The councillor goes on: “Be assured I will none the less seek every practical opportunity to confirm my disapproval of the subway expansion proposal. Which I have done consistently as a member of Council and as a member of the TTC every time the matter has come before me. All of that having been said, you will understand that bringing about a change in policy will take more than one more vote from me at Council confirming my disapproval of the subway extension. It will take a new attitude by Council and – to be candid – some backbone at Queen’s Park. Which is where you might want to try to bring some immediate influence to bear if the goal is to bring about a change of policy concerning the LRT replacement proposal.” Below is the vote recorded on October 9, 2013 which was previously published. The only “local” councillor to vote in favour of the subway option was TTC chair Karen Stintz. Previous post plus Mr. Parker’s full letter as sent out by Mr. Kettel. on January 30, 2014.
