September 23rd, 2022

Andrew: Little Jamaica deserves compensation after another delay of the Eglinton Crosstown P3

QUEEN’S PARK – MPP Jill Andrew (Toronto-St. Paul’s) released the following statement regarding a Friday announcement of yet another delay in the construction of the Eglinton Crosstown built using P3 privatization:

“This latest delay is piling on the devastation for businesses in the Toronto—St. Paul’s riding. Black-owned businesses in Little Jamaica as well as other small business owners across Midtown deserve better than constant and costly delays and disruptions. Our community wants accountability and deserves a public report on the impact that this construction has had on our region, especially for those hardest-hit.

The Eglinton Crosstown was supposed to be open in September 2020. The never-ending delays prove that public-private partnerships are a scam that we shouldn’t keep falling for. Even after Ontario’s Auditor General warned the government about the higher costs, Liberals and Conservatives keep pursuing P3s because they line the pockets of their wealthy friends. In my community, we’re living with the devastation of this reckless funding model.

Crosslinx Transit Solutions and the Ford government both owe the business owners along the Crosstown route not only an apology and explanation, but compensation for their financial losses during construction. The vibrant community of Little Jamaica, its Black-owned businesses, and all Midtown residents deserve better. They deserve a community that’s walkable and open — not a never-ending construction site.

In light of this further disruption, the Government should immediately pass my motion for the “Little Jamaica & Midtown Small Business and Community Economic Health and Wellness Strategy”. This includes needs-based financial compensation for small businesses that continue to be impacted by the decade-long LRT construction, and mandated timely and transparent communication to the community from Metrolinx, the Ministry of Transportation, and Ministry of Small Businesses”.