Premier Ford is Taking us Back to the Fifties

Prepared by Kim Perrotta and Ronald Macfarlane

Published in The Hamilton Spectator, November 13, 2024

Premier Ford seems determined to take Ontario back to the 50s.  Back to the time when homes were tucked away in the suburbs, jobs were in the big cities, and workers commuted back and forth in their big cars.

The current government in Ontario seems to have missed the news that communities are healthier, more equitable and sustainable, and less expensive to service and build when they are designed to support public transit with walkable neighbourhoods that include sidewalks and separated bike lanes.

Traffic congestion is a huge problem in southern Ontario – particularly in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA).  It costs people and business time and money.  It increases air pollution, lung and heart diseases, premature deaths, and health care costs.  And it increases greenhouse gas emissions that are fuelling climate change.

In the land use planning and transportation sector, it has long been understood that we cannot solve traffic congestion unless we reduce demand. To accomplish that, we must design and build our communities so we can easily get to where we want to go without needing a car. 

This means designing our communities so they support efficient transit service that provides people with easy access to popular destinations.  It requires developing walkable neighbourhoods that put homes in close proximity to common amenities such as restaurants, schools, parks and grocery stores.  And it means building complete roads that make it safe and pleasant for people to walk, cycle, and drive.

As public health professionals, we understand that Land Use Planners and Transportation Engineers know how to do this; they just need permission and the authority to do it.  But we also know that when we do these things, we can create healthier and more equitable communities.

An efficient public transit system can make jobs, schools, essential services, and recreational opportunities more affordable and more accessible to people of all ages, income levels, and abilities.  It also increases levels of physical activity and reduces air pollution, both of which decrease negative health impacts and healthcare costs.

Walkable neighbourhoods increase levels of physical activity, decrease chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and prevent premature deaths.   They also encourage social interaction which is good for mental health.

Active transportation infrastructure such as separated bike lanes, pedestrian bridges, and sidewalks encourage people to cycle and walk as modes of transportation. This increases levels of physical activity. It reduces vehicle-related injuries and deaths.  It reduces air pollution.  And it also increases independent and affordable access to jobs, schools, and services.

Walkable and transit-supportive communities with safe and connected active transportation infrastructure improve health, foster equity, and fight climate change. They also reduce traffic congestion, save taxpayers money, and reduce pressure on farmland and natural areas.  Premier Ford, we don’t want to go back to the 50s.