CivicAction, in its quest to get Ontarians talking about regional transit, is always bringing more stakeholders into the web of its transit investment campaign.
Last week, it was University of Toronto students engaged in party politics.
CivicAction recently teamed up with the University of Toronto to host a youth forum on transportation - "From the Boardroom to the Dorm Room".
The event, which brought together youth leaders and transit experts, is part of a larger CivicAction initiative to get "each Ontario Party leader to have an answer on how they will fund the next wave of transportation improvements." An especially important issue in light of the upcoming Spring budget.
That's why, this particular youth forum was consciously comprised of young people from across the political spectrum and affiliated with a major party - young Liberals, PCs, NDPers and Greens.
In a panel discussion moderated by CBC Radio's Mary Wiens, attendees shared their daily commuting experiences.
Despite the difference in political affiliation, there was widespread agreement about the social, emotional and economic costs of an insufficient transit system. A particularly interesting statistic: U of T students spend an average of 16 hours a week commuting to and from campus, well above the average 6.8 hours a week spent by commuters generally in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.
The general consensus was that students bring a unique perspective to the transit debate and need to agitate together to achieve real change.
"We are at a generational moment to shape the future of transportation in our regions," said CivicAction CEO Sevaun Palvetzian. "Although there are diverse perspectives on how to do this, there is widespread support for investment to get us moving."
CivicAction has long expressed support for the efficient implementation of the Metrolinx plan.
Metrolinx was established in 2006 by the Government of Ontario to "improve the coordination and integration of all modes of transportation in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area."
Writer: Katia Snukal
Source: CivicAction