Owning enormous debt makes people behave in strange ways. It seems Ontario’s nearly $300 billion public burden has prompted the Liberals to throw out previously sacred principles in favour of wangling a couple of dollars in road tolls. So it is that HOV (or high occupany) gospel is being re-written to make HOT lanes (toll roads) the new holy truth of highways. It doesn’t help the air quality, but it might give Ontario some breathing room on Wall Street. It is said we will know by the end of the year exactly where the Liberal government intends to establish HOT lanes and what the fees will be for using them. But they are coming and those who can afford cars, fuel and licenses will become the new darlings of correct conduct. Phooey to those ride-for-free car-pool sillies. The transportation minister says the government will not be removing regular lanes to create HOT lanes. He dismisses concerns that the HOV lanes created for the Pan Am Games caused a 73 per cent increase in accidents compared with the same July-August period in each of the previous four years. “HOV lanes don’t cause accidents,” said Mr. Del Duca, blaming the spike in collisions on “motorists who aren’t paying attention to the conditions of the road.” Thanks for your concern minister.
