Scarborough Subway Extension Delay – Public Inquiry Now!

TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO:

WHEREAS the Scarborough RT (Line 3) was permanently closed on August 24, 2023, following a derailment caused by failed infrastructure, leaving hundreds of thousands of Scarborough residents without rapid transit;

WHEREAS the Scarborough Subway Extension — intended to replace the Scarborough RT — was promised in 2019 at a cost of $5.5 billion and a 2030 opening date, but has since escalated to $10.2 billion with an estimated completion date of 2033;

WHEREAS the revised 2033 opening date was not disclosed by the Ford government, but was revealed through a freedom of information request — representing a failure of transparency to the communities most affected;

WHEREAS replacement bus service during construction has been inadequate in frequency, capacity, and reliability, imposing serious economic and social costs on Scarborough residents, workers, students, seniors, and families;

WHEREAS the Eglinton Crosstown LRT — the Ford government’s other signature transit project — was similarly afflicted by cost overruns and delays, growing from $4.6 billion to approximately $13 billion and opening six years late, with no public inquiry and no accountability;

WHEREAS the people of Scarborough deserve full transparency regarding the management of public funds, honest timelines, and reliable transit service during the years they are asked to wait;

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, call upon the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to:

1. Order a full public inquiry under the Public Inquiries Act, 2009 into the Scarborough Subway Extension, including its cost escalation from $5.5 billion to $10.2 billion, the revised 2033 opening date, procurement and oversight failures, and the adequacy of replacement transit services provided to Scarborough commuters;
2. Improve interim transit service in Scarborough during the construction of the Scarborough Subway Extension;
3. Increase the frequency and reliability of TTC replacement bus service;
4. Provide regular public updates regarding construction timelines, delays, and project progress for the Scarborough Subway Extension;
5. Ensure Scarborough residents receive reliable and accessible transit service throughout the duration of subway construction.