Toronto, ON – In advance of the anticipated transportation announcement by Premier Wynne Monday, a new poll shows nearly 60 per cent of Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) residents are now more likely to support a political leader who brought in new funding sources for transportation improvements.
Today Move the GTHA, a group of organizations calling for increased transportation investment in the region, released information from a new poll of GTHA residents showing that support for new revenue sources for transportation infrastructure has increased in the past few months. This is particularly important in advance of the upcoming Ontario budget which may include new investment strategies for transportation.
Fifty-nine percent of respondents said they would be more likely to support a political leader who proposed one or more funding ideas to directly support improvements to their community’s transportation options. Only 12 per cent were less likely to support and 29 per cent indicated a mixed opinion.
Support was highest in Peel region (62 per cent), Toronto (60 per cent), and York Region (59 per cent).
“It’s clear people want to get moving, and they’re looking to their political leaders to make that happen,” said Sevaun Palvetzian, CEO of CivicAction, one of the members of Move the GTHA. “We’re at a generational moment, and we need to make investments now that will meet our needs today and for decades to come.”
Similarly, 60 per cent of respondents stated they would support an increase in taxes and fees in order to improve transportation infrastructure. “The time for action is now,” said Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario CEO Doris Grinspun. “We need party leaders of all political stripes to step up and address this issue in the upcoming Ontario budget and in party platforms. The health of our residents demands it.” Move the GTHA is advocating for long-term dedicated funding for an efficient, accessible, affordable and fully integrated regional transportation system, with accountable and effective regional governance mechanisms for that transportation system.
The survey was conducted from April 4-7, 2014 with 1042 GTHA-resident members of the Angus Reid Forum, proportional to census values for age, gender, and region within the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area.
Full details of these polling questions can be found at movethegtha.com.
– 30-
The following representatives are available to comment on these poll results:
Cameron MacLeod
Executive Director, CodeRedTO
416-779-5638 (cellular)
info@CodeRedTO.com
Marion Zych
Director of Communications, Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO)
416-408-5605 (office)
647-406-5605 (cellular)
MZych@RNAO.org
Move the GTHA is a group of organizations working together to build awareness, engagement and education in support of investment in our region’s transportation system. Move the GTHA is representative of a diversity of constituents and perspectives – health, labour, business, policy, environment, and citizen advocacy – yet unanimous in the understanding that investment is urgently needed. For more information, please visit movethegtha.com
