Kitchener MPP's private member's motion to call for government to reveal two-way, all-day GO plans
Goal is to bring more transparency to government plans, Laura Mae Lindo says
Kitchener Centre MPP Laura Mae Lindo says she will present a private member's motion at Queen's Park on Thursday that will call on the provincial government to reveal its timeline for delivering two-way, all-day GO trains between Waterloo region and Toronto.
Lindo says she wants the government to deliver that information by June 6.
"The goal is to bring more transparency to the plans that the government has," Lindo said.
"What I'm hearing across my community and I would say across the region is that we need to know what the plan is so that we are not waiting in vain again."
I agree, and I support <a href="https://twitter.com/LauraMaeLindo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LauraMaeLindo</a>’s motion. <a href="https://t.co/cABicHYB8y">https://t.co/cABicHYB8y</a>
—@MikeSchreinerGovernment committed to improving train service
Transportation Minister Jeff Yurek told CBC Kitchener-Waterloo in January that he hopes to have an announcement about two-way, all day GO in the next 12 to 18 months, but anticipated making smaller announcements along the way.
A spokesperson for Yurek issued a statement on Tuesday saying the government is committed to delivering two-way, all-day GO service to Kitchener.
"We continue to work with our partner CN to arrange more passenger service times," the statement said.
"Working with CN to put more trains on existing lines is the fastest way to add more service and improve the transit experience for commuters and transit users."
The spokesperson added that as discussions with CN continue, they will share more news.
Province needs to provide timeline
Lindo took a GO bus to Toronto from Kitchener this week to highlight long travel times for commuters. She said she spent three hours for the one-way trip, which included transfers on local transit.
"Commuters plan their days. They plan what the work will be during the commute and they'll have to throw some of that down the drain if the commute is so raucous where I am on and off different modes of transportation," Lindo said.
She said commuters are asking for something that's going to enhance their quality of life, make them job ready and make them more rested.
Lindo's motion reads: "That, in the opinion of this House, the Government of Ontario should, before June 6, 2019, provide a firm funding commitment and a clear timeline for the delivery of frequent, two-way, all-day electrified GO rail service along the full length of the vital Kitchener GO corridor."
June 6 is the last day that the legislature is expected to sit before the summer break.