Beyond the Headlines
Former Scarborough councillor and city budget chief David Soknacki offers his insight on municipal politics.
more from this authorA vibrant downtown is key to Toronto's health
Behind the Headlines
Poof! In a couple of days last week, billions were wiped out of our pension plans. Although the markets have recovered some ground, recession may be around the corner.
As a result everyone from tycoons to tradespeople are closely watching markets, their jobs and are making decisions more carefully.
Our new prudence will extend into the political arena. Unless we are careful, we may lose the momentum we have achieved on the environmental front.
Polls consistently show that environmental issues come to the fore only after we are secure in our jobs, health and safety. Once those basic needs are met, we are willing to make choices to support environmental sustainability and other social goals.
Putting these principles in terms of our hometown, when we Torontonians prosper, we have the security to look after the environment. That's why jobs and the environment are complementary.
Although there are a number of initiatives to help preserve our employment districts, our downtown core deserves special attention. It is one of Toronto's few areas of job growth, where we also have the advantages of effective use of our infrastructure plus viable clusters of service industries that can be our future.
Nourishing this centre has the virtues of better using our infrastructure, creating prosperity and allowing us the ability to support non-material goals such as the environment.
That's why it is so frustrating to observe those who wish to diminish our vibrant downtown, often citing environmentalism. No matter how people want to get to our one major area of job growth - by rail, air or road - there is misguided energy that threatens not only our prosperity, but also the environmentalism those advocates preach.
Blue 22 is the name of the rail link that was planned to whisk passengers from Pearson airport to Union Station in 22 minutes at a cost of $20. The two end stations are built, the route is established and the concept has the support of all three levels of government.
This rail link is imperative to our needs. Changes can be made to accommodate those who fear a negative impact, perhaps by adding a local stop, and supporting neighbourhood entrepreneurs. But we cannot continue to delay this project.
The island airport is another case of politics getting in the way of our future.
The contentious issue seems to be that a commercial airline is providing a necessary service to our downtown. It's been the focal issue of a mayoralty campaign, lawsuits and general unpleasantness.
All of this hides inconvenient truths. City airports help keep downtowns vibrant and key jobs in the core. Just ask residents in London, Belfast and Stockholm. The medical helicopter service saves lives. And as an added bonus, the new planes provide jobs to thousands in Toronto.
And finally we come to the thousands of commuters who use the Gardiner Expressway. Virtually all of the ideas on the future of this corridor of land share the common goal of restricting the flow of workers into our city.
Prosperity is more than balance sheets. Prosperity means enhanced quality of life we can all share, and values that we all promote. But the key to our ability to address challenges in the environment depends on our economic well-being.
