Reason #50 why ##FordMustGo

When Doug Ford announced his insane #401Tunnel project last fall, it was passed off as fantasy by most. But on the campaign trail this week, he doubled down on the crazy and committed to building it. He is unable to disconnect growth and progress from cars and highways. If elected, he will ignore experts and literally pour billions of our tax dollars into a hole in the ground.

#OntarioElection2025 #ONpoli
https://thepointer.com/article/2024-10-14/doug-ford-s-highway-401-tunnel-scheme-latest-disconnect-from-environmental-realities

Reason #49 why ##FordMustGo

Ford announced another big #GOTrain project this past week that would allow commuters to cross Toronto uninterrupted by freight traffic. He had no details on cost or when it would be built, and couldn't confirm they've talked with the railway that owns the track. This from a government that is crazy over budget & years behind on the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, and can't even provide an estimate for its completion.

#OntarioElection2025 #ONpoli
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/go-transit-expansion-election-1.7453929

Reason #48 why ##FordMustGo

Courtesy of @MikeImBack - Ford can build a billion dollar contingency fund with no announced plan to spend it but removes funding from an important community facility. There's zero empathy in this government.

#OntarioElection2025 #ONpoli
https://disabled.social/@MikeImBack/113993496796089362

Reason #47 why ##FordMustGo

Courtesy of @Perspective - Ford's ability to damage every facet of life in Ontario is impressive. He's slowly strangling universities in the province as he directs funding to projects and policies we don't need or continues to build his slush fund for election buying emergencies.

#OntarioElection2025 #ONpoli
https://c.im/@Perspective/113994155257195362

Reason #46 why ##FordMustGo

Courtesy of @Perspective - When you are destroying the province with vanity projects, moronic policies, and poorly planned support programs, it's important to eliminate any potential opposition or opportunity for feedback.

#OntarioElection2025 #ONpoli
https://c.im/@Perspective/113991756744358405

Reason #45 why ##FordMustGo

Ford is remarkably consistent - he's failed at every opportunity to solve the #AffordableHousing crisis. Part of the federal housing funds depended on building additional public housing units. Ford was complaining that the feds didn't pay up despite the fact that Ontario missed the targets significantly. Once again, federal funds went directly to municipalities that followed the playbook, upsetting Ford.

#OntarioElection2025 #ONpoli
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-ottawa-says-ontario-failed-to-meet-affordable-housing-goals-wont-send/

Reason #44 why ##FordMustGo

The federal government offered over $350M in funding to Ontario if the province agreed to direct municipalities to remove zoning barriers for multiplexes. Doug "I love urban sprawl" Ford refused, saying communities would "lose their minds" and "wouldn't stop screaming" if fourplexes were permitted. Mississauga and Toronto changed their bylaws on their own and directly received federal funds, angering Ford.

#OntarioElection2025 #ONpoli
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ford-fourplexes-infrastructure-funding-1.7162251

Reason #43 why #FordMustGo

In January of 2024, the Ford government promised to provide government incentives to developers that would encourage them to start building Affordable Homes. When asked the definition of "affordable," the government convened an internal committee to figure out what they meant. In June, they rolled out those incentives and developers said "WTF" and continued to not build homes.

#OntarioElection2025 #ONpoli #AffordableHousing
https://globalnews.ca/news/10563757/ontario-affordable-housing-definitions/

Reason #42 why ##FordMustGo

After removing rent controls, Ford's government in 2019 removed experienced adjudicators from the Landlord Tenant Board & moved responsibilities to Tribunals Ontario, a "mega-cluster of tribunals." Delays skyrocketed and both landlords & tenants took advantage of the long wait for complaints to be heard. In some cases requests for higher than allowed rent increases were prioritized.

#OntarioElection2025 #ONpoli #AffordableHousing
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-ombudsman-report-landlord-tenant-board-1.6830181

Reason #41 why #FordMustGo

According to a recent Angus Reid survey, #AffordableHousing is the 3rd most important election issue. After being elected in 2018, Ford removed rent controls on all new rental buildings. It was hoped this would jump start new development, which happened but stalled due to COVID, inflation, and high interest rates. When market conditions changed, there were no policy adjustments. Just 30% higher rents.

#OntarioElection2025 #ONpoli
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/rent-control-toronto-ford-series-1.6974129

Reason #40 why ##FordMustGo

If Ontario wants to terminate the lease with Therme, it can only do so after 10 years, with 5 years notice. Ontario & Therme must agree on a replacement site, and Ontario must pay the building's replacement cost. Ontario must also pay to demolish the Ontario Place building and isn’t allowed to use the lands until it’s demolished. If the parties cannot agree on a new site, costs for Ontario are worse.

#OntarioElection2025 #ONpoli
https://www.blogto.com/city/2024/10/ontario-place-razed-construction/

Reason #39 why ##FordMustGo

Michael Lindsay, CEO of Infrastructure Ontario, after consulting with "subject-matter experts", estimates the NEW Ontario Place will get 6 million visitors a year, or 16,500 per day For comparison:
- Ontario Place (2012) – 300K
- CN Tower – 1.8M
- Ontario Place (2022) – 2.9M (incl. Concerts, Cinesphere, Cirque du Soleil, marina, etc.)
- Chimelong Water Park in Guangzhou, China – 3M
- Niagara Falls – 12M

I want what Mikey is smoking.

Reason #38 why ##FordMustGo

To protect his vanity project from opposition, the Ford government passed the Rebuilding Ontario Place Act, exempting it from laws that apply in the:
- Planning Act
- Environmental Assessment Act
- Ontario Heritage Act
- City of Toronto Noise Bylaws

And shielding the Ford government from any claims for damages arising from the project, including breach of contract. Kinga can bulldoze with impunity.

Reason #37 why ##FordMustGo

One important section of the Auditor General's report on the #MegaSpa was not well covered by the mainstream media. The report stated that Infrastructure Ontario signed the 95 year lease without completing a thorough financial review of Therme. Audited financial statements of Therme Group in 2019 & 2020 showed they were losing money and had a market value of $1.46M. No red flags there...

#OntarioElection2025 #ONpoli #SaveOntarioPlace
https://spacing.ca/toronto/2024/12/04/follow-the-money-to-ontario-place/

Reason #36 why ##FordMustGo

The Auditor General of Ontario released their report on the bidding & procurement process for the mega spa, as well as the terms of the contract. You'll be shocked to learn (sarcasm) that Ford's government did not follow their own bid process and that communications & meetings seemed to favour a few bidders. Ford put the cost of the project at $424M (2019l Vs the AGO estimate of $2.24B. Oops.

#OntarioElection2025 #ONpoli #SaveOntarioPlace
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-auditor-general-setup-1.7399052

Reason #35 why ##FordMustGo

The #MegaSpa contract details were released in late 2024, the same week that hundreds of trees were being cut down at Ontario Place. Not a coincidence. The mainstream media highlighted a few details, but the attached document really drills down into the Ontario government's actions and the terms that show this project will ikely lose money. Tomorrow, I'll highlight the major concerns.

#OntarioElection2025 #ONpoli #SaveOntaroPlace
https://opencouncil.ca/theme-spa-ontario-place/

Reason #34 why ##FordMustGo

For me the critical leadership failure of Ford is highlighted with the #MegaSpa deal. He's spending an insane amount of taxpayer dollars for a vanity project no one asked for or needs. Using public funds, badly needed elsewhere, to give away Toronto’s waterfront for 95 years to a private corporation AND shielded the deal from public scrutiny by not allowing the contract details to be released (until recently).

#OntarioElection2025 #ONpoli
https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/ontario-s-secret-650m-mega-spa-deal-sparks-outcry-prioritizing-luxury-over-essential-services-882875092.html

Reason #33 why ##FordMustGo

Ford's obsession with a mega project on Toronto’s waterfront led him to bribe the City of Toronto to stand aside and not get in his way. Newly elected mayor Olivia Chow was facing a $1.5B budget shortfall, and Ford dropped $1.2B in promises and concessions on her in return for the city giving up any property rights with Ontario Place. Almost like the mafia taking advantage of someone at a weak point.

#OntarioElection2025 #ONpoli #MegaSpa
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/chow-ford-announcement-monday-1.7040823

Reason #32 why #FordMustGo

IMO, Ford wants his legacy to be big projects. Unfortunately, he's stuck in the 1950s when projects delivered urban sprawl, were built at the expense of the environment, or used government funding & land to enrich corporations. In 2011, he wanted to put a mega-ferris wheel and mega-mall on the waterfront. He tried to revive that in 2014 along with a casino. He's building what he wants, not what we need.

#OntarioElection2025 #ONpoli
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/doug-ford-s-dream-waterfront-ferris-wheel-monorail-and-a-boat-in-hotel/article_9824939e-0e2c-5924-a6ed-392a3d7ad561.html

Reason #31 why #FordMustGo

In 2019, Ford said he was proud of his decision to tear up hundreds of renewable energy contracts, which ended up costing Ontario taxpayers more than $230 million. If you've seen windmills sitting idle for the past 5 years, now you know why. But with natural gas costs rising, Ford has flip-flopped, and now his government is pushing for new wind and solar projects. Too bad we wasted 5 years.

#OntarioElection2025 #ONpoli #WindPower
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-wind-power-green-energy-doug-ford-electricity-1.7297217