Quiz: do Canadians just like taking it?
Imaginary tunnel tomorrow is better than invisible salt trucks today
Yesterday, one of my favourite readers texted me to say, “‘Canadians like taking it in the a–’ should be the title of your next article.”
It took me several minutes to stop laughing; I have to admit, he has a point.
For example, consider yesterday’s press conference featuring Toronto’s Mayor Olivia Chow and Ontario’s Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria. They were together to announce that “the Ontario government has broken ground on the final tunnel segment of the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension, marking another significant milestone in the province’s plan to deliver a new transit line from Scarborough to Mississauga.”
The good news is that media asked pointed questions of both politicians.
The sad news is that both gave unbelievably ludicrous answers which, when contrasted with each other, offer demonstrable proof that Canadian politicians are living in La-La Land. What’s worse is that, judging by electoral results, Canadian voters seem to be perfectly fine with this. If nothing changes and we continue to get the governments we deserve in the years ahead, Canada is over.
You can see it clearly in the video posted above. Olivia Chow is asked by a reporter why, given that Toronto had lots of notice of yesterday’s snowfall, there were no salt trucks out early and vehicles were skidding all over icy roads in TORONTO, which dedicated most its last Council meeting to Toronto’s Winter Maintenance Program, and specifically, the failings of that program.
“We knew that there was a storm coming, that it was going to be cold. We could tell by the weather forecast set that there would be some kind of rain last night and snow this morning, and it’s clear that there was an advisory,” Chow rambled redundantly.
“I asked that question of the City Manager this morning at around 8am just to clarify what’s happening. I’ll see if I can find an answer for you later on,” she finished lamely.
The next reporter moved on to a question for Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria about the planned study on what Sarkaria describes as “the largest tunnel in the world,” which the Ford government’s proposed tunnel alongside the 401.
“On the 401 study: the study is looking at from all the way in Mississauga, the 410 all the way to Scarborough, that is an incredible distance to build a tunnel across the city. Is the government realistically looking at building a tunnel of that size? Or could it be shorter in length or a different configuration?”
“Well, look, this is going to be one of the largest transportation projects in the history of this province, and we’re committed to doing it,” Sarkaria replied. “That’s why, in the campaign, we announced that we are going to be doing it, our intention is absolutely to build the largest tunnel in in the world, and Premier Ford’s vision for transportation and this province…we’ll do anything and everything to get that done.”
Ironically, the invisible salt trucks and the imaginary tunnel were both discussed at a press conference updating progress on the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2027.
So there you have it in one short press conference: the people who can’t organize getting salt trucks out before rush hour for a storm on which they received advance forecasts and advisories, are planning to rip up 50 kilometres of property adjacent to the Earth’s busiest freeway to dig a tunnel from Mississauga to Scarborough.
What could possibly go wrong?
