Councillor Paul Ainslie - Ward 43 Scarborough East

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July 28&29, 2012

February 2012

Dear Residents of Scarborough East,

The new term of council has brought our community new opportunities as I take on the positions of Chair of Scarborough Community Council, Chair of the Government Management Committee and Chair of Toronto Public Library Board.

Transparency and accountability are a high priority for the City of Toronto. As Chair of the Government Management Committee I along with the City Clerk's Office envision a city in which all are fully engaged to an open and accessible local government.

Transparent and Accountable Government is the measure for which I will strive for as Chair of the Government Management Committee. I with the City Clerk's Office will work diligently to build public trust and confidence in our local government.

At this time all residents of the City of Toronto are invited to engage in the 2011 budget deliberations. To ensure that you are as informed as possible I will be posting all electronic information on my website for your review.

The City of Toronto is dedicated to you and will strive to show all residents pride, respect, integrity, dedication and excellence.

I welcome your comments as we move forward in creating a great City. councillor_ainslie@toronto.ca

Your Councillor
Paul Ainslie
Scarborough East Ward 43

Chair, Government Management Committee

Chair, Toronto Public Library Board
Chair, Scarborough Community Council

Newsletter: Fall 2011

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Scarborough Deserves an Underground LRT
For Immediate Release

February 1, 2012

TORONTO - Councilor Paul Ainslie, Scarborough East Ward 43, supports Mayor Ford's position on public transit converting the planned Eglinton LRT into a truly rapid transit line reaching from Scarborough City Centre clear across to Etobicoke which fully interconnects with Toronto's subway network. The Metrolinx analysis showed this plan, envisaged in their Memorandum of Understanding, will move four times as many people up to twice as fast. This is exactly the type of rapid transit Scarborough needs.

In a letter to TTC Chair Karen Stintz dated January 30, 2012, Councillor Paul Ainslie expressed his and other City Councillors representing Scarborough concerns with the possibility of changes to the current plans to build the Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown Line.

"Scarborough is the fastest growing community in Toronto and is home to 625,000 people, we as elected representatives need to give Scarborough residents the mechanism to travel efficiently" Stated Councillor Paul Ainslie. The only way to garner increased ridership in the suburbs is to make public transit faster which can only be accomplished if the LRT is underground.

One-quarter of Toronto's population resides in Scarborough yet we are the most poorly served by the current transit system. Like most Torontonians, Scarborough residents travel to work across Toronto yet it is the only section of the city's four community council areas with no access to real rapid transit.

"Scarborough residents are major contributors to our economy and deserve an underground public transit line", noted Councillor Ainslie. The average ride on the Eglinton Crosstown would have people travel in half the time as the above surface travel time. The City is advocating to decrease traffic congestion not increase gridlock. Building the LRT underground would solve traffic issues, an above ground build would further congest our roads making travel time impossible.

An underground LRT will meet Scarborough's community needs and the city's needs. It is the only real solution to address our growing population. Residents want this dealt with now, they do not have an appetite for a "make-do," interim solution that may last 20-30 years.

The old "Transit City" plan did not offer a rapid transit solution for Scarborough. Councillors representing the area have always insisted that plans continue to build a proper, rapid, underground subway to Scarborough. Having now seen the devastating impact the St. Clair Ave. transit project had on local communities. Construction of the current Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown Line is already underway and plans to move forward on a Sheppard subway extension to Scarborough Town Centre, Scarborough will finally be part of Toronto's rapid transit network.

"The Scarborough LRT must be replaced by a rapid transit solution the only solution is an underground LRT. Let's get going, we don't need further delays." stated Councillor Ainslie.

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