Oshawa NDP MPP Jennifer French pushes Ford government on plans for Bowmanville extension

In response to the Ford government’s recent $1.4 billion in transit infrastructure cuts found in the Ontario Fall Economic Statement, NDP Infrastructure and Transportation critic Jennifer French pressed the government on their plans for the promised Bowmanville GO expansion.

“Doug Ford promised to deliver two-way, all-day GO service to Bowmanville. But since the election, we learned that all transit projects are under review, including projects that the premier had specifically promised to deliver,” said French. “The Fall Economic Statement showed an unexplained $1.4 billion cut to transit infrastructure expenditures. When will the minister deliver two-way, all-day GO service to Bowmanville?”

French has been concerned about the status of the planned expansion for several months, and had put forward an order paper question in the summer requesting an update — a legislative tactic used to force the government to answer. Unfortunately the response she received from the Ford Tories did little to re-assure her that the project is going to go ahead.

“Today’s ambiguous answer from the minister, in which he re-iterated that the project is under review, did nothing to quell the fears that I have been hearing from the people in Durham Region,” said French. “This is an infrastructure project that is desperately needed, and was promised by this government, we deserve a clear answer from this government on what exactly it’s plans are.”