City councillors create Ontario Line subcommittee for Metrolinx to hear residents’ concerns

Toronto city councillors are hoping to have their collective voices heard as Metrolinx begins planning and construction on the future Ontario Line.

With the new subway line, it’s become quite apparent for some councillors that they need to do more to make sure Metrolinx is hearing what they have to say.

“A lack of community engagement in consultation and consideration for Metrolinx has resulted in some hasty and problematic moves in the creation of this Ontario Line project,” said Ausma Malik, councillor for Spadina-Fort York (Ward 10).

The latest evidence of these issues arrives as Metrolinx vacated trees at Osgoode Hall for a future Ontario Line station after months of attempts by the community to find alternatives and stop the removal of the 200-year-old trees.

In response, city councillors, whose wards will be directly affected by the transit line, have created an Ontario Line subcommittee to find ways to engage, gather feedback and make sure the provincial agency gets the message.

“We know we need transit downtown. We’re supportive of the Ontario line, and this is an opportunity for city council to, first and foremost, listen to residents, hear from community stakeholders, and make some clear recommendations about engagement with the city and what that should look like from Metrolinx in the provincial government,” explained Malik.

RELATED: Metrolinx forced to suspend tree cutting again at Osgoode Hall

“It’s going to impact a large portion of my ward, and of course, Residents’ Associations and BIAs are all concerned. And I think having a subcommittee in place to try to work with Metrolinx and hopefully mitigate any problems that we may have,” added Chris Moise, Ward 13 councillor for Toronto Centre.

Concerns regarding plans for the Ontario Line have been brought up by multiple communities at different times over the last couple of years.

Thorncliffe Park groups have raised issues about the large railyard for trains replacing local businesses and a mosque.

Meanwhile, residents in Leslieville and Riverside rallied in an effort to keep the line from running aboveground through their backyards and parents with children at a school on Pape aren’t getting answers about early work there.

“We’re building the space for Metrolinx to come and sit with us. We’re not against Metrolinx. We actually want the Ontario Line. We need the Ontario Line. We need to make sure that it is built on time and it’s built properly,” said Moise.

The first meeting of the new Ontario Line sub-committee set up will be held in March. An update report on the status, timeline, pedestrian and traffic management and community involvement is expected.

“We’re hoping that Metrolinx listens, and I believe that it’s in their best interest to be able to come to the table and the provincial government to step up in a way that they absolutely should, and as a public agency must,” Malik said.

In a statement to CityNews, Metrolinx said they continue to work closely with their partners at City of Toronto, meeting on a weekly basis.

“We have been coordinating plans with city staff and we look forward to continued collaboration as we move this project forward,” continued the statement.

With files from Meredith Bond of CityNews