Jessica Bell

New Democratic Party of Ontario

Laura Mirabella

Liberal Party of Ontario

Dianne Saxe

Green Party of Ontario

Declined

Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario

Following up on our successful Provincial Election Transportation Debate in May 2018, Transport Futures hosted a second 2-hour debate during the 2022 election on May 25, 2022. In the lead up to this event, voters knew that the Progressive Conservatives, NDP, Liberals and Greens were proposing to substantially increase spending on a range of infrastructure projects while reducing costs for drivers and transit riders. But there were few details on whether these policy decisions were evidence-based and if the status quo could really change – especially when COVID-19, disruptive technologies and climate change had to be taken into account. We therefore asked the parties to fully explain where they stood on four intersecting themes:

  1. Roads, Rail and Goods Movement
  2. Cars, Transit, Active Transportation and Smart Mobility
  3. Funding, Financing, Equity, Safety and the Environment
  4. Leadership, Governance and Communication

Following up on our successful Provincial Election Transportation Debate in May 2018, Transport Futures hosted a second 2-hour debate during the 2022 election on May 25, 2022. In the lead up to this event, voters knew that the Progressive Conservatives, NDP, Liberals and Greens were proposing to substantially increase spending on a range of infrastructure projects while reducing costs for drivers and transit riders. But there were few details on whether these policy decisions were evidence-based and if the status quo could really change – especially when COVID-19, disruptive technologies and climate change had to be taken into account. We therefore asked the parties to fully explain where they stood on four intersecting themes:

  1. Roads, Rail and Goods Movement
  2. Cars, Transit, Active Transportation and Smart Mobility
  3. Funding, Financing, Equity, Safety and the Environment
  4. Leadership, Governance and Communication

The NDP’s Jessica Bell, the Liberals’ Laura Mirabella and Greens’ Dianne Saxe accepted our invitation to participate at the debate but the incumbent PC Party declinedIn their absence, Peter Miasek from Transport Action Ontario made a short presentation analyzing the party’s April budget as it relates to transportation expenditures. 

As Transport Futures’ first “hybrid” event where delegates could attend “in-person” at UofT’s Innis Town Hall or “online”, our audience posed excellent questions moderated by Good Roads‘ Executive Director Scott Butler. The debate ended with concluding statements from each party candidate and final remarks from Martin Collier.

Even though the election is now over, be sure to watch and discuss the debate with family, friends, neighbours and colleagues so a truly sustainable transportation network can be achieved in Ontario!

Transport Futures salutes the Toronto Area Road Builders Association and anonymous sponsors 
for helping make the Provincial Election Transportation Debate possible.