Begum: Eglinton LRT is the poster child of the Ford government’s incompetence

QUEEN’S PARK — Ontario NDP Shadow Minister for Public Transit Doly Begum is continuing to pressure Doug Ford for transparency as his mismanagement continues to make life harder for Ontarians.

MPP Begum demanded answers from the Premier during yesterday’s Question Period.

“Residents in Scarborough were promised the hope of an easier commute through the Eglinton-Crosstown LRT. Instead, they’ve endured 14 years of construction, noise, and road closures,” said Begum. “What began as a $5 billion project has now soared past $13 billion, and there is still no concrete opening date."

“This project has become the poster child for this government's incompetence."

“How much longer will commuters and residents be forced to pay for the government’s failures and its wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars?”

Ford’s mismanagement of public transit has also worsened his jobs disaster, with the Premier failing to safeguard Ontario jobs in the sector. Highlighting the fact that hundreds of workers in Thunder Bay lost their jobs in 2022, after he quietly cut Canadian content requirements on Ontario Line subway cars from 25% to 10%, Begum sought accountability from Ford.

“That reckless decision back then means fewer Ontario jobs and more public money leaving the province today.”

“How can this Premier justify turning his back on Ontario workers instead of keeping transit production and good manufacturing jobs here at home?"

Ontario’s Official Opposition will continue fighting for accessible public transit, and to strengthen Ontario by protecting and creating jobs.