By Giles Gherson, Contributor
“I don’t know what the solution is … just do something!” The words of Liberty Village residents reverberated across the city over the weekend, speaking to the frustration our mounting congestion crisis is causing.
Some good news is the city and province appear to be listening to residents and businesses. On Wednesday, they announced up to $73 million to accelerate construction on the Dufferin-Shaw stretch of the Gardiner Expressway by 30% and moving up the completion date by at least a year.
Recent polling by Toronto Region Board of Trade and Ipsos resoundingly support this move. Three-quarters of respondents support 24-hour construction to get projects completed faster, even if it would mean dealing with additional noise and disruption.
Residents are clearly fed up with planning their lives around our congested roadways and our poll illustrates the sobering reality: People aren’t just trying to figure out an easier way to get from point A to B, they’re increasingly deciding to take a pass on many of the great things on offer across the Toronto region.
The economic costs are hard to ignore and when opportunity costs factored in, congestion is costing our region up to $11 billion.
What does that look like? For example, 42% say they avoid going to the store, the same number are opting out of attending entertainment or sports events, while 38% told us they steer clear of dining out — all because of our unbearable gridlock.
Toronto is a growing city and will host many exciting international events and attractions in the coming months and years, including the FIFA World Cup, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and a new WNBA team. The business opportunities surrounding these major events are greater than just buying a ticket.
As congestion makes life more difficult for residents, it’s also hurting our local businesses. Every time residents avoid shopping on a local high street, or grabbing a coffee on the way to visit family our retailers and restaurants lose customers. When congestion keeps people at home, they aren’t going to dinner before a concert, or to a nightclub afterward. They won’t buy a hotdog, a beer, or a jersey at the hockey game.
Concerningly, our gridlocked streets also hinder residents’ ability to invest in their future. Our poll showed that nearly 25% avoid applying for jobs in different parts of the region to avoid contending with our congested roadways, while 12% said traffic was the reason they’ve passed on opportunities for further education and upskilling. If residents continue to forgo opportunities to advance their careers and education, we risk diminishing the long-term economic viability of our region and stifling Toronto’s unique and innovative spirit.
Something’s got to give. That’s why the Toronto Region Board of Trade’s Congestion Task Force is focused on developing realistic and actionable solutions to address the crisis.
Every missed trip to the mall, skipped event, and unfilled job application erodes the strength that propels our region forward. We must take decisive action to alleviate congestion, bolster our economy, help our small and medium sized businesses succeed and enhance the experience for tourists and residents alike.
Solving congestion must be a top priority for political leaders across the region. Other decisions may have to be relegated to solve this critical issue with the urgency it merits. We need to get our region moving again. Residents are ready to get back to living their lives, without having to plan their days around congestion. It’s high time they can.
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Giles Gherson
President and Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Region Board of Trade
Giles Gherson is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Toronto Region Board of Trade, one of the largest and most influential business organizations in North America. Giles leads the Board’s efforts to advocate on behalf of our members and enhance the business competitiveness of our Region. He is charged with leading the implementation of the Board’s new strategic plan to renew our mission as a catalyst for a vibrant, globally competitive Toronto Region business community.
Prior to joining the Board in 2022, Giles spent over 25 years in the private and public sector in progressively senior roles. He spent 15 years with the Province of Ontario, where he held multiple influential Deputy Minister roles – most extensively and recently as Deputy Minister, Economic Development. Previously, Giles has led the government’s economic growth and competitiveness policy, overseen the recent creation of two new agencies, Invest Ontario and IP Ontario, and worked to attract a wave of technology and manufacturing investments, including the retooling of the province’s auto sector for next generation battery electric vehicles. He currently sits on Ontario’s Advanced Manufacturing Council, working to boost the long-term competitiveness and resilience of this sector by attracting key investments and creating opportunities for businesses across the province.
Prior to his role in government, Giles worked as editor-in-chief of the Toronto Star, political editor of the National Post and editor of the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business. Giles is the immediate past President of the Board of Directors at the Institute of Public Administration of Canada, the country’s leading professional organization supporting excellence in the public sector.