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Tory promises ‘consequences’ if you block rush hour traffic

Mayor-elect John Tory speaks to reporters outside city hall in Toronto on Tuesday, October 28, 2014.
Mayor-elect John Tory speaks to reporters outside city hall in Toronto on Tuesday, October 28, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

TORONTO – Mayor-Elect John Tory said the city can’t adopt a business as usual approach to congestion while meeting with his Transition Advisory Council on Wednesday morning to discuss plans around his commitment to relieve and reduce traffic congestion on city streets.

Tory says the city needs better law enforcement around traffic congestion. “I hope we can get the maximum possible co-operation from the police service in enforcing the law,” he said.

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READ MORE: The scientific solutions for Toronto’s traffic congestion

Tory notes traffic ticket revenues are down in Toronto but hasn’t been given a full explanation as to why that’s the case. He stresses it’s not just about issuing tickets, it’s about enforcing the law.

“So people know there are consequences to just parking your car or truck in the middle of a lane of traffic in the middle of rush hour. And I don’t think there have been consequences for the last period of time.”

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He said a number of businesses have incurred significant and unplanned costs trying to cope with the traffic congestion on our streets.

Tory cited a conversation he had with Gail Nyberg, executive director of the Daily Bread Food Bank who told him “they too have had to spend more money on trucks and staff because they couldn’t count, anymore, on getting the food out to the different agencies that they serve.”

Tory will be sworn into office on December 2.

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