Boges

No I actually think quite the opposite, people who drive downtown for work probably can afford a modest toll. This issue all depends on what the goal of the toll is. A $1 or $2 toll per trip into the City would be a good revenue generation tool to contribute to the upkeep the 2 or 3 Toronto highway's (427 is debatable since it's the main way people get to the Airport in Mississsauga) But I've heard people say $5-$10 a trip is a reasonable toll. That would make driving downtown exceptionally expensive and GO would probably be the better alternative for most folks. But if you look at all the parking lots in each GO train station on the Lakeshore line in Mississauga, Oakville and Burlington it would be clear to most that GO can't absorb that many more commuters. BTW anyone proposing a toll on the 401 is an idiot.

It's sorta like saying a band isn't supposed to try and sell their CD's and Merchandise at their concert. They are just there to sing.

I doubt those people are contributing to the gridlock problem.

Yes but not enough, it's never enough for left wingers than think anything a government spends money on is a good idea. It's true though, tolls and gas taxes are punitive to the poor. If you're low income it's likely you can't afford to live downtown. Then again if you work downtown and live outside it's safe to say you can afford a modest toll. If money was the issue you wouldn't have a car and you'd take the GO like our friend shwa.

Paul Martin balanced the books in the late 90's early 2000's by cutting services. They both also benefited from a robust economy. They also downloaded services to the level of government below them. Why I'm bringing this up is that the kind of stuff that Harris did, are the kind of things we sort of need now. The province has a $19 billion deficit. Something's gotta give and considering the taxes we pay and the price we pay for hydro and gasoline I don't think we need to pay more taxes as a whole. How about you argue the issues with me instead of telling me I'm dumb.

Wow an author trying to sell his books, what a concept!

And contributing the economy by buying and maintaining cars. Drivers pay far more in taxes than any public transit commuter, how much more should they pay?

I'll tell you, it's being expanded in the 905.

I think those are subjective based on your political perspective. I think cost cutting and reining in public spending is essential. Workfare isn't offensive to me. BTW you didn't answer my question. What's the difference between the Common Sense Revolution and what Paul Martin did.

What are the practical implications of putting toll roads on the Gardiner and the DVP? Putting a toll on the 401 is ridiculous because people use it to get places other than Toronto AND there is already a toll option in the 407. So let's say they put a $5 surcharge to get into the city. That's fair and not unreasonable. But what's to stop people from getting off the highway and taking a city street in? Just a thought.

It's not that I don't have a clue. I wasn't politically engaged then, I was in high school much of the time Harris governed and I don't remember my education being horrible. That's like calling me an idiot because I wasn't politically engaged during Iran Contra. So give me some examples. Also what was different from what Harris did and what Paul Martin did on the Federal side during the exact same time?

Or how about I just don't go to Toronto unless I somehow get Leafs tickets. Oh and the Gardiner doesn't have any Carpool lanes. If they built them there, then maybe you'd have a tangible way of dealing with the congestion. But you have a mayor like the last one that actually wanted to rip the Gardiner down. Left wing politicians don't want to reduce congestion, they want to make driving so unpleasant that you'd do anything to avoid driving downtown. Even use their crappy TTC and GO.

My bad, I've never seen it, I've only heard from radio hosts with an agenda. But even it it was full of people on their bikes, there are other places to put bike lanes than on major arteries.

Oh and regarding Toronto, replacing a lane on Jarvis and putting in a little used bike lane certainly didn't help the congestion problem did it?

Sure but I do think a toll road is punitive to other people. People who drive for a living, couriers, truck drivers. I also think a road toll unless it was only used during rush hours would hurt Toronto because people would avoid the city unless they had to go there. GO is expensive. It's cost effective for me to use GO if I was going downtown alone. BUT if I'm bringing my wife or a friend downtown the car becomes the far better method of commuting.

That's assuming you live and work in Toronto. I costed it out for my 30 minute commute if I wanted to take public transit. I'd have to use both local transits and the GO Train. unless of course I wanted to also walk up to an hour each day as well. I'd also ad more than an hour to my day commuting. So no gym and the end the day, no eating dinner with my wife. I'd be getting home at 9pm every night since I'd leave work at 7pm. And on the weekend I wouldn't have the freedom to see my parents, friends, to go to Niagara Falls if I want to. Stuff like that. BTW I believe it's totally reasonable to expect someone going to Downtown Toronto to use public transit. But this region is far more than Toronto.

Here's a perfect example of poor planning and idiocy from our government. In many parts of the GTA's busiest HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) lanes were built by the province. Carpool lanes. If you're driving to work from one town to another what are the odds that you can find someone that works in the same town as you, works in the same area of you and works the same hours as you? Sure there are carpooling website but I'd imagine the aggravation of finding someone to carpool with isn't worth the effort. So during rush hour these HOV lanes are freakin' empty! If Tim Hudak said he'd free HOV lanes up for everyone. He'd get every single riding in Halton, Peel and York. He'll probably get all of them anyway though :-/

Do public servants even compete with other countries? I thought they provided services to the population that paid their taxes. The problem with employment equity is a real one, but that's not what's going on here. Greece gave their public servants way more than it could afford and now that they need a bailout to stave off ruin their soiled brat populace is rioting. This is a great warning for the rest of the Western world. You can also another warning from the opposite end of the spectrum coming from the US.

Yeah democracy is so dumb!! Betcha weren't saying that when David Miller and Daddy Dalton got elected.

I ain't complaining with the status quo. Even if Gas goes up to $1.50/litre it's still cheaper than taking public transit. But now gumints may want to charge people who are just trying to make a living more because they can't keep their books straight. I have problems with that. BTW I was just highlighting the problems with the argument of "Live where you work" Even if that's your goal, and I admit living where you work owns. Sometimes live doesn't work that way.

Well considering who's getting elected this day and age, that leaves you on the outside looking in.

Above and beyond the multitude of taxes they pay for the "privilege" of owning a car. While people who take the TTC have their fares subsidised. It's absolutely fair!

Yeah because that's so practical.

Yeah it's irrelevant to me, I try to go into Toronto as few times as possible. But I still can have an opinion. People are going to have to drive downtown regardless of a tax. Not everyone can simply use the GO-Train. Also what about the people that may live in Toronto and work in say Mississauga? Mississauga isn't just some bedroom burb there are many head offices there too. I actually think the traffic in places like Mississauga and Oakville are actually worse than they can be in Toronto.

Do you also have a car to drive you to the station and do all the other things I'm sure you'd like to do living there? Ironic is someone in the Shwa doesn't have a car actually considering the #1 industry there. ;->