Suffering For Progress: The Cost Of Infrastructure Development

Are the infrastructure projects in some Ontario cities worth the pain homeowners, businesses, and commuters are feeling? Ontario is steadily growing but its major roads and bridges need repair and new transit is sorely overdue. What is the cost to Ontarians and will the benefits outweigh years of inconvenience? For insight, we welcome: urban affairs journalist John Lorinc; University of Toronto civil engineering professor Shoshanna Saxe; urban planner Neil Loewen; and YorkEglinton BIA chair Jason McDonald.

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TVO The Agenda with Steve Paikin reached out to Metrolinx for a response on compensation to small businesses that were affected by Eglinton Crosstown construction. Here is their statement:

Small businesses are the backbone of the communities we work in, which is why we’ve invested over $178 million back into local businesses through local procurement opportunities, as part of our Community Benefits and Supports Program. Of which, approximately $10 million has been invested back into local businesses across Eglinton Crosstown alignment.

In 2022, Metrolinx and the City of Toronto, with support from Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas, established a joint committee to collectively address the needs of local businesses. This group provided guidance on how to implement the Ontario Government’s additional $3million funding for businesses on Eglinton Avenue. Business supports included marketing and advertising efforts with each of the BIAs along the Eglinton alignment, windowwashing services to 286 businesses and enhanced street cleaning services and we transferred over $1.38 million to the City of Toronto to support their Transit Expansion Construction Mitigation Grant Program.

We understand that construction can be challenging for local businesses which is why we work to minimize impacts, support communities and keep locals informed through our Community Benefits and Supports program – all with the shared goal of developing more transit services that will improve people’s lives.