If Only Thorncliffe Park Was A Tree or A 31 Year Old In The Mayor’s Office

For a brief period it seemed as though a few trees at Osgoode Hall and a 31 year old in the Mayor’s office were attracting more attention and creating more of an arousal than the trampled community of Thorncliffe Park. But alas, Thorncliffe Park, the trees and the Mayor’s dignity and reputation were equally trampled.

 Letters to Metrolinx, Minister Mulroney, and Mayor Tory are mainly brushed over. Anyone or any group in Thorncliffe Park who was seen as possible opponents to Metrolinx were persuaded to look the other way. A few members of the community who possessed the power to do right by the community chose to become lapdogs for Metrolinx and the Province of Ontario. Choosing to pose for donation photo ops and ribbon cutting ceremonies over advocacy and the best interest of their community.

 When compared, it is difficult to understand what about a few trees attracts the attention of The Law Society of Ontario and trumps the rights and long term wellbeing of over 30,000 mainly minorities in a densely populated community with limited community space who are about to lose that limited amount of community space. For Mayor Tory, we now know that he chose to focus his attention on a 31 year old instead of the constituents he is paid to pay attention to.

 To date, the facts have not changed. Metrolinx has determined the placement of a train yard based on dubious employment data provided by the City of Toronto, and desktop analysis performed by their back-office Metrolinx staff. When presented with a viable alternative that would not impact the timeline of the Ontario Line, Metrolinx chose to change their own criteria. When the City of Toronto was questioned about the source of their employment data, Counsellor Jaye Robinson vanished like the alleged spy balloons and Mayor Tory was more interested in chasing a skirt than chasing the facts.

 Like the trees in Osgoode Hall and Mayor Tory’s dignity, the hopes of Thorncliffe park were cut down. When it comes to Metrolinx, fairness, accountability and transparency are not components of their process and approach. Metrolinx and the City of Toronto will cut you down and skirt their responsibility.

To contact SaveTPARK:

Email: notrainyard@savetpark.ca  or Phone: 1-855-657-2750