[txlseries4]

Was going to put this in a TTC thread but maybe this one's more appropriate.

Yesterday I saw Toronto transit advocacy group TTCRiders flag some legislation (has only had its first reading and second ordered) that could impact transit agencies in the GTHA, haven't seen it shared here. Here's their post from Bluesky. I haven't read anything else about this. What is this government up to...

The text from within the image plus a bit more, from Bill 98: https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-44/session-1/bill-98#Sched46

Fare structure
4 The Minister may make regulations establishing a fare structure for prescribed transit systems, including,
(a) setting fare prices;
(b) defining fare categories, types and eligibility requirements;
(c) establishing fare discount policies;
(d) establishing transfer policies for travel between a prescribed transit system and any other passenger transportation systems.

Participation in unified fare payment system
5 Every prescribed transit system shall, within the prescribed time frame, participate in a unified fare payment system approved by the Minister.

Apportionment of fares
6 (1) The Minister may prescribe geographic zones for the purposes of this section and may designate prescribed transit systems in relation to each zone.

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

Was going to put this in a TTC thread but maybe this one's more appropriate.

Yesterday I saw Toronto transit advocacy group TTCRiders flag some legislation (has only had its first reading and second ordered) that could impact transit agencies in the GTHA, haven't seen it shared here. Here's their post from Bluesky. I haven't read anything else about this. What is this government up to...
View attachment 725752


The text from within the image plus a bit more, from Bill 98: https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-44/session-1/bill-98#Sched46

Fare structure
4 The Minister may make regulations establishing a fare structure for prescribed transit systems, including,
(a) setting fare prices;
(b) defining fare categories, types and eligibility requirements;
(c) establishing fare discount policies;
(d) establishing transfer policies for travel between a prescribed transit system and any other passenger transportation systems.

Participation in unified fare payment system
5 Every prescribed transit system shall, within the prescribed time frame, participate in a unified fare payment system approved by the Minister.

Apportionment of fares
6 (1) The Minister may prescribe geographic zones for the purposes of this section and may designate prescribed transit systems in relation to each zone.

It was either go this way or annexation all of the GTHA into one supercity.

 

[DSCToronto]

Was going to put this in a TTC thread but maybe this one's more appropriate.

Yesterday I saw Toronto transit advocacy group TTCRiders flag some legislation (has only had its first reading and second ordered) that could impact transit agencies in the GTHA, haven't seen it shared here. Here's their post from Bluesky. I haven't read anything else about this. What is this government up to...
View attachment 725752


The text from within the image plus a bit more, from Bill 98: https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-44/session-1/bill-98#Sched46

Fare structure
4 The Minister may make regulations establishing a fare structure for prescribed transit systems, including,
(a) setting fare prices;
(b) defining fare categories, types and eligibility requirements;
(c) establishing fare discount policies;
(d) establishing transfer policies for travel between a prescribed transit system and any other passenger transportation systems.

Participation in unified fare payment system
5 Every prescribed transit system shall, within the prescribed time frame, participate in a unified fare payment system approved by the Minister.

Apportionment of fares
6 (1) The Minister may prescribe geographic zones for the purposes of this section and may designate prescribed transit systems in relation to each zone.

Yet another example of the Ford government trying to take over the powers of local Councils and Boards. (Something that MIGHT be excusable if they had a reputation for good management of things they already control!)

 

[CMQSD402F9011]

While many in Ontario are living paycheque to paycheque. Ford wants to punish the poor and low income by making fines expensive. This is the same premier who banned speed cameras and fines for motorists.

 

[urbanclient]

Yet another example of the Ford government trying to take over the powers of local Councils and Boards. (Something that MIGHT be excusable if they had a reputation for good management of things they already control!)

Ok there is a lot, and I mean a LOT that I disagree with regarding the Ford government. But I have a strong feeling if it was the OLP or ONDP unifying the fare scheme, then more people here would be supportive.

I see nothing inherently wrong with this:

"Ahead of the [Hurontario LRT's] completion — the date of which is not currently public — the province asked Brampton and Mississauga to work to harmonize their fares so the line could serve both cities. The two sides, however, couldn’t organically come to an agreement. That, the government suggested, prompted them to ramp up its work to create uniformity for fares across the Toronto area under its OneFare program."

Launch of Hurontario LRT driving Ontario’s plan for enhanced fare integration | Globalnews.ca

The Hurontario LRT, also known as the Hazel McCallion Line, does not have an official opening date but, when finished, it will run through both Brampton and Mississauga.

globalnews.ca

There is an inkling of hope that aligned schedules might lessen the redundancy of buses on places like Steeles Ave. (YRT and TTC).

 

[afransen]

While many in Ontario are living paycheque to paycheque. Ford wants to punish the poor and low income by making fines expensive. This is the same premier who banned speed cameras and fines for motorists.

Can we get higher parking and cycle lane blocking tickets while we're at it?

 

[Northern Light]

The fall minimum wage increase is out this morning, effective October 1st, it will rise from $17.60 per hour to $17.95

Ontario Newsroom

news.ontario.ca

This will leave Ontario with a minimum below both the Federal minimum: $18.15 per hour as of today; and the BC minimum of $18.25 effective June.

Given how far below a living wage the minimum is; and that we're now well below minimums i peer U.S. cities (after factoring in the exchange rate) I find this rather pathetic.

Comparisons:

Chicago: $16.60 USD/ $23.04 CAD

NYC: $17 USD/ $23.60 CAD

San Fran: $19.18 USD *as at July 1st / $26.62 CAD

Seattle $21.30 USD / $29.47 CAD

And we wonder why people are struggling.

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

Bugs me is that the speeding fines could be lower than than the fare evasion fine. But that's okay for Doug's automobile driving pals.

 

[guavadelic]

Chinese EV company could be building electric vehicles soon in Stellantis' idled Brampton plant...

Stellantis NV is discussing options for building electric vehicles in Canada with its Chinese partner, Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology Co., according to people familiar with the matter, a sign of how quickly the auto industry is being reshaped after Canada opened the door to companies from the world’s largest car market.

The talks are in an early stage, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing information that’s not public. If the companies proceed, it would be the first major Chinese auto investment in Canada since Prime Minister Mark Carney reached an agreement with President Xi Jinping in January to reduce tariffs on Chinese-made EVs.

The Canadian discussions are focused on an idled Stellantis assembly plant in Brampton, Ontario, a suburb of Toronto. Thousands of workers there have been laid off for years but were supposed to get a new Jeep sport-utility vehicle to produce.

The company has since been in discussions with Canadian Industry Minister Melanie Joly over future plans for the plant.

Those talks now include the possibility of building cars in partnership with Leapmotor, a fast-growing Chinese manufacturer. Stellantis bought a 20% stake in Leapmotor in 2023, and a year later the two companies formed a joint venture called Leapmotor International, focused on global production and sale of the electric vehicles.

Carney’s government would face delicate negotiations with labor unions and parts suppliers that are wary of Chinese firms entering the Canadian auto sector. The Brampton plant has about 3,000 unionized workers.

The industry minister has previously said she wants to see Chinese auto production in Canada, but in a joint venture, using Canadian parts and software.

“We believe that these great Canadian champions can partner with Chinese EV companies to make a Canadian-Chinese car to export it around the world,” Joly told Bloomberg News in February.

She said any Chinese auto production in Canada may have conditions around it to address concerns about software security, jobs and parts suppliers.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...t-idled-canadian-plant?embedded-checkout=true
Paywall Free: https://archive.is/88hrd#selection-1791.0-1799.147

The Unions, Auto Lobby, and Premier Ford already with statements out expressing concern at the news.

 

[lenaitch]

Bugs me is that the speeding fines could be lower than than the fare evasion fine. But that's okay for Doug's automobile driving pals.

Maybe they should start a demerit point system for transit riders. Lose enough points and you are banned from riding.

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

Ontario Introducing Legislation to Strengthen Regional Governance​

From https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1007252/ontario-introducing-legislation-to-strengthen-regional-governance
"Proposed changes would help local leaders speed up decision-making, reduce costs and expedite housing and infrastructure"

Today, the Ontario government introduced the Better Regional Governance Act, 2026 that would, if passed, make a number of changes to the way regional governments function in some of Ontario’s fastest growing regions. These changes would support lower costs for municipal taxpayers and better alignment between regional decision-making and shared provincial-regional priorities. The proposed changes include giving the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing the power to appoint upper-tier council chairs in eight fast-growing regions and granting these council chairs “strong chair” powers to help them deliver on government priorities, such as housing and infrastructure. The proposed legislation would also reduce the cost of government and support efficient decision-making in Niagara Region and Simcoe County by reducing the size of Simcoe County Council and Niagara Regional Council.

“We will always support our municipal partners, both lower- and upper-tier, in delivering locally led solutions that offer better value for taxpayers and speed up decision-making,” said Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “These changes provide the necessary tools for local leadership to advance our shared priorities and better serve our communities, including by expediting housing and infrastructure development.”

The proposed Better Regional Governance Act, 2026 and related regulatory changes would enable the following:

• Allow the Minister to appoint regional chairs in Durham, Halton, Muskoka, Niagara, Peel, Waterloo and York, as well as the warden of Simcoe County. Under previous legislation, the Minister had the authority to appoint chairs in Niagara, Peel and York regions for the 2022-2026 council term only.
• Regional chairs in the eight municipalities listed above would receive “strong chair” powers which mirror “strong mayor” powers, providing more efficient, streamlined local decision-making, enabling them to deliver faster results for residents and support efforts to advance shared provincial-municipal priorities.
• The number of municipal elected officials in Simcoe (population 351,927) and Niagara (population 477,941) is significantly higher than many other comparable municipalities in the province. For instance, Niagara region has 126 local elected officials across its upper and lower-tier councils. By comparison, Toronto City Council has 26 members for a population of over three million and Queen’s Park has 124 MPPs representing over 16 million people across the province. This increases the cost of government for local taxpayers and creates dysfunction at council. To address these concerns, the government is proposing the following changes:
  • In response to a request from the county warden, Simcoe County Council would be reduced from 32 members to 17. The new council would be made up of mayors of the 16 lower-tier municipalities, plus the warden.
  • Niagara Regional Council would be reduced from 32 members to 13 members. The new council would include the mayors of each of Niagara’s 12 lower-tier municipalities plus the regional chair.

To facilitate the transition to the new council structure and ensure appropriate and effective representation, the government would also work with local municipal leadership to develop a weighted voting framework, which is already in force in Simcoe County and would be applied in Niagara Region.

All regions must review their council composition following the 2026 municipal election. Niagara Region would be exempt in 2026 and would return to regular reviews after the 2034 municipal election. The government will continue working with municipalities to identify ways to strengthen local governance in Niagara, Simcoe and beyond. Working together to advance shared provincial-municipal priorities helps advance housing and economic development, preparing both individual municipalities and the province as a whole for growth.

---

 

[CMQSD402F9011]

More distraction from the current scandals Ford is facing

 

[lenaitch]

better alignment between regional decision-making and shared provincial-regional priorities

Translation: Local municipalities aren't bending knee to the province faster enough.

I don't know why they don't cut to chase and eliminate all municipal and school boards governance. They truly have no time for local input.

 

[UtakataNoAnnex]

….he wants same the policies for Toronto as he does for Bracebridge and Renfrew. /s

 

[txlseries4]

Hmm are we going to see the gov make some more noise this week to distract from this? Bill 97 has passed its second reading and is heading to committee.

Ontario FOI changes will make it ‘less transparent than even the federal government’ | Globalnews.ca

The Ford government included its restrictions on freedom of information laws as part of its 2026 budget, which will head to committee.

globalnews.ca

Ontario’s transparency watchdog is renewing her calls for the Ford government to scrap its controversial freedom of information crackdown, saying the changes will make the province “less transparent than even the federal government.”

In her submission to the government, Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario Patricia Kosseim urged the government to rethink its approach.

She said the changes will make Ontario less transparent, also raising major security concerns by implicitly allowing the widespread use of personal emails and phones to make public decisions.

“Allowing them to conduct government-related business on their personal email accounts and devices significantly increases the risk of privacy breaches and cyberattacks,” Kosseim wrote.

“These risks are further amplified when they keep these personal email accounts and devices after they leave government.”